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Godly Peace Trumps Human Comfort
When you encounter a small adversity in your day, what is your first impulse: 1. Do you call and tell a friend 2.Do you vent and let off steam with your spouse 3. Do you just "let it all out" to anyone who is willing to listen. Survey says…where is number 4? Good question. When we struggle through a day, a week, or even a year, the only "peace that surpasses all understanding" is from God the Father. He is our peace…the origin of peace. So why do we try to find comfort and peace through others? For me personally, when I’m experiencing life’s little troubles, I crave personal interaction. It’s that good friend who tells me, "…everything is going to be alright…" in a soothing voice and with a gentle touch. However, true peace is oneness with God. It’s talking to him about all our struggles, big and small, and "groaning" to him about the everyday frustrations.
The key verse says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." When Jesus spoke these words it was during the Last Supper with his disciples. Peace was God’s parting gift through Jesus. The reason that peace is not as the world gives is because Jesus Himself is peace. He gave us Himself. As humans we have a way of substituting many things for God’s peace, like the above, 1, 2, or 3? Or maybe your "peace" is when you are surfing the web or watching your favorite TV show? I find it interesting the things we "fill" our plates with in order to find peace, and 100% of the time they fail us, even people.
It is difficult for us to set aside those habits we are accustomed to, like running to human comforts when we need help overcoming obstacles in our lives. I definitely do not want to discredit friends, family, and spouses who can and do help us in seeking out God’s peace, but they are never a supplement to God’s peace itself. Should we continue to sooth ourselves with human comfort or the comfort of The Prince of Peace? I challenge you to go to God when you need peace…even for the little things. Go to the author and creator of peace in prayer and watch the heavy weight of life fall off your shoulders!
Just reading this chapter in The Message and thought I’d post it here. Thanks Kacy.
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
Amen Fabie
K 2 the C-
I need this today…thank you for the reminder!!
Your words made me realize that I do spend more time seeking consolation from family and friends that seeking Him, the giver of peace.
Thanks for your insight and thank you also for all the hard work you do. You are so modest in your job description. Yes you keep us all connected, but you do so much more! And it is evident you “work as unto the Lord.”
Thank Kacy for your words of wisdom today. I love the phrase “Not as the world gives”. His peace brings rest and contentment. An ability to let go and let God be in charge.
Peace also reminds me of Rick Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. initiative and i hope our internal peace translates into action. Warren’s initiative gives handles to being the feet of Jesus as we walk in his peace.
“P.E.A.C.E. is an acronym that stands for ‘Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation. The emphasis calls for church-based small groups to adopt villages where spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance keep people from experiencing the kind of life God wants them to have.
I am totally guilty of running to my friends and family first when problems arise…although I am thankful that a have a few dear friends that will pray with me during those times, I need to remember to go to Him first. Maybe then, I won’t have to take the 2nd step…even though I am so grateful for it.
Thanks Kacy!
Thanks Kacy for your insight! You continually touch my heart, but more important is that GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART! Well done good and faithful servant!
Love, Mom
Kacy: You’ve put your finger on the pulse of this issue–consequently, how many times I find myself tempted and have to pray, “Lord, I don’t want any comfort that doesn’t come from You…”, realizing that as you say, often He does comfort us through others–but at the same time He wants us to seek His face first. My favorite verse for this temptation is Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You…” Though a little archaic sounding, I rather like the word “stayed”, as it calls up the image of being “stabilized”. Especially, as I am so prone to get ahead of my mind by “acting” on impulse…so this Isaiah verse is especially stabilizing for me. The Lord first showed me this when I was roughly your age, so it is a really affirming to hear it phrased it so beautifully by the younger generation.