“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.” – John 14:27
When life is putting pressure on us and pressing in from all sides, things can feel pretty chaotic. Anxious thoughts fill our minds, and we worry and fret about how things will turn out. In Philippians 4 verse 6 we are encouraged to not let anxiety rule in our hearts, but to rather bring our worries before God in prayer so that He can quiet them. But what does it look like when God quiets our concerns?
When we trust in God completely and steadfastly, He promises to keep us in perfect peace (Isaiah 26, 3). Note that it says ‘keep’ in peace. God does not promise to whisk us away to some far-off place without challenges or troubles. Instead, He seems to offer us peace even amid a difficult situation.
He quiets our anxieties, but it’s not always in the ways we expect Him to. Sometimes (often) God does not take us OUT of the storm. But He teaches us how to access His deep soul peace INSIDE the storm – when we realise we are not alone in it, He is right there with us.
Peace Amongst The Chaos
Prayer: God, I know that You are called the Prince of Peace. Would You make me more aware of how this peace can affect every area of my life? You love me too much to leave things so chaotic. Please teach me how to find peace even in the middle of the storm and to seek safety and shelter in You alone. Amen.
Challenge: Do something that upsets or annoys you on purpose this week – go stand in the long queue at the shop or ask your younger sibling to teach you a game or offer to do the dishes. Then, in the middle of the stormy feeling, think about the peace of Jesus and take a few deep breaths.
