Thankful Thirty – God’s Gift of Peace in the Impossible
Last Friday night as terrorists hit Paris . . . fear hit the hearts and minds of people around the world once again. And peace feels impossible.
Or maybe it’s more personal for you:
The doctor’s prognosis is grim. And peace feels impossible.
Your child’s behavior is a daily battle. And peace feels impossible.
The holidays approach and your family isn’t split it’s exploded. And peace feels impossible.
Your spouse wants a divorce. Your friends betrayed you. Your debt feels insurmountable. Your _________. And peace feels impossible.
That’s when you need God’s gift of peace greater than your impossible. Peace that goes beyond your understanding. Possible peace when you need it most.
How to Experience God’s Gift of Peace
Ask – Pray and ask God to give you His peace. He wants you to know His peace. Asking Him helps you remember that He wants you to have it.
Trust – Believe God will give you His peace. It is always available. By the power of His Spirit He will give it to you.
Remember His Promises –
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; my promise of peace will not come to an end,” says the Lord who shows mercy to you. Isaiah 54:10
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11
Live in Peace – Work for peace. Slow down. Practice patience. Simplify. Let it go. And repeat #1–3.
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” ~Robert Murray McCheyne
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” ~C.S.Lewis
“In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are His everlasting arms,” (Deuteronomy 33:27) full of support, provision, comfort and strength.” ~Oswald Chambers
Turn to the One who calmed storms, restored life, and forgave sins. Because…
He still does. He calms, restores, and forgives. He gives perfect possible peace.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Father, Thank you for giving Your peace. Please forgive me for looking elsewhere for peace or for trying to achieve it myself. Life has taught me that outside of You true and lasting peace is impossible. Thank you for allowing me to learn that You want me to know and enjoy Your peace. Help me to trust You completely. Help me to rest on Your promises. Grant me Your peace even and especially when the circumstances seem impossible. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Photo Credit
Wow-I was stopped in my reading by this: “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” ~Robert Murray McCheyne—If I could hear Christ praying for me…I sort of couldn’t read anything after that. I think that visual-and audio-is gonna stay with me all day. Thanks, Deb.
With so much going on in the world right now, we need to know and feel God’s peace more than ever. And as C. S. Lewis so aptly put it above, there is no peace apart from the Lord.
Blessings, Deb!
This post was so refreshing to read! I believe in having peace and pray everyday that peace is bestowed on me by believing and trusting in our Heavenly Father! Thanks for sharing…