By Gina Caswell Kelly
Sitting out in my backyard is such a peaceful time for me. I love listening to the birds and the wind blow through the tree leaves. My yard is so green and my flowers are just outdoing themselves! With my dog Trip sitting in my lap, I sometimes think it could not get any better. It is a feeling of peace, even though in my life, there are things going on that are not always so peaceful.
So, what brings you peace? From where does your peace come? Peace isn’t about he absence of trouble in your life. Life is not always easy. In fact many times, life is not easy! Even though we may belong to God and have His Holy Spirit living in us, life still rages around us. We still face illness. We still face financial woes. We still face times of trouble. But, in Philippians, Paul reminds us that “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
We find peace, as Christians, through remembering the promises of God to never leave us, or forsake us. We can look back at our lives and remember how God has carried us through difficulties in the past. We look in His Word and see His reminder in Psalms to “Be still and know that I am God.” Sometimes, it is that “Be Still” part that trips us up. We want to stay busy trying to find a solution or trying harder to make something work the way it should. And we do need to stay active and do what we can, but instead of letting this consume us, we sometimes need to step back and just be still. Let God guide our next steps instead of trying to figure it all out for ourselves.
The world offers peace when circumstances are perfect. God offers peace even when they aren’t. His peace is not found in having all the answers; it is found in knowing the One who does. When we place our worries in His hands, we discover that peace isn’t something we create – It is a gift from a perfect Father who cares so much about us.
Peace is never the absence of conflict. It is the presence of God in the midst of conflict. Isaiah writes, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Put your trust in the Father. Place your worries and concerns in His mighty hand. Let Him bless you with peace. It will make a difference!