Peace be Still
Life is a struggle. Pain in life cannot be avoided. The promise of God is “in this world you will have tribulation.” However Jesus said, “Be of good cheer. Take courage for I have overcome the world.” According to Philippians 4 the encouragement is, “be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The kind of love that God has for us is not conditional on our response. He loves us in spite of ourselves. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
After seven weeks at the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, when the oncologist told Suzan that her cancer was terminal, they left the doctor’s office depressed and downcast. Pete suggested that Suzan go to the hair salon and have her hair done. When Pete came to pick up his wife, she had a smile on her face. Pete said, what happened to change your mood? Suzan said, “I prayed and God answered. He said, “I’ve got this.” Suzan reminds us that joy is not the absence of pain but rather the presence of the Lord.
The devil’s job is to steal our peace. It takes just one barb of a negative comment to burst our bubble of happiness. Oswald Chambers said, when the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to be the reliable ones. Those who rise to the occasion to trust in the Lord despite the storms of life.
Jesus said, “if you are required by law to go one mile, then gladly go the second mile.” The devil will go out of his way to discourage and disparage. To be committed to the great commission, what could be an opportunity to disturb our soul is really an opportunity to show God’s grace, mercy and peace.
After days of ministering to the multitudes, Jesus said to his disciples, “let’s get into the boat and go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A violent storm arose and the disciples were terrified that their boat would sink. In their panic, they woke Jesus. He said, “O ye of little faith.” Then he said, “Peace be still.” Immediately the winds and waves ceased. The disciples said to themselves, “Who is this that even the winds and waves obey him?”
Jesus suffered all things that we do as men yet without sin. When he went to the Garden of Gethsemane, his heart was troubled. His sweat was as if it were great drops of blood. He prayed to his father, “If there be any way, let this cup of sin, separation, pain, and death pass from me.” Jesus prayed this prayer three times and three times God’s answer was “no.”
Frank Khalil from Tulsa asks, “how do we come to understand the peace of God?” The answer is that it’s only by abiding with Him. Peace is available at the foot of the cross. You can’t have peace until you have the Prince of Peace. We can have peace only when we realize that there is no peace apart form the peace we have in Christ. In the midst of trials the question is “no matter the outcome this situation, will you still purpose in your heart to love, honor and serve me?” Peace is found in complete surrender to his will. Therefore as Jesus said, “Watch and Pray.”
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done,” his prayer was answered. Prayer is aligning our heart with God’s heart and our will with his will. Peace reconciles our heart with God’s heart.
Understanding the peace that passes understanding is a process…to come to him with a heart of humility and meekness. When our heart’s desire is to praise, bless, and serve God from a heart of love no matter the circumstances of this life, then we can know the peace of God. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid.”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael