Tag: peace

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What we all need.

Maybe this is why Jesus woke early and slipped off into solitary spaces. The morning quiet captures the essence of the day. The stillness of a sky that has just seen the sun meet the clouds is only broken by the chirp of a morning bird singing its song. If Paul’s writing holds true, that song is too the Lord as all creation cries out. 

The stillness allows my mind to walk the fields of thoughts. To stroll barefoot through the week that has passed and attempt to find some cohesion and clarity to all the things. A massive shooting in Texas. An acquaintance saw cancer complete its brutal race in his 19 year-old daughter. And as Americans we keep thinking that blasting our opinions on social media makes a difference.  

Jesus said “in this world you will have trouble.” This seems to stay true. So what do we do with all the trouble. How do we handle such levels of pain and grief and fatigue and despair. Just maybe there is a single glow of light found in the rest of those words from Jesus, “but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

But take heart. Be of good faith. And in courage to your encouragement. In this troubled, heart-breaking, devastating world we live in, Jesus has already overcome. He has won. He has succeeded in dealing with the devastation, the heartbreak, the grief, the hurt, the hardship, the pain. He has won the battle and completed the victory. Jesus has overcome. 

So as we sit in the grief and hardship of the days, do so knowing your victory is soon coming. If you are discouraged, take heart. If you are grieving, take heart. If you are stressed, distraught, fatigued, and worn out, take heart.  The echoes of my Grandfather’s voice quoting the classic King James play out in my mind – be of good cheer.

As the morning sun rises to its place in the sky and more birds begin to join the song of the first, I will rest in the beginning of this verse that the Christ gave us: “these things I have spoken to you that you may have peace.” If anything, we all need more peace.  As we navigate the noise and pass through the chaos. What I desire, and I hope you do as well, is peace. Peace of mind. Peace of heart. Peace from the pain. Peace from the strife. Peace from the hustles, bustles, and hurry of the frantic pace we put ourselves in. What is desired is the perfect peace from the Prince of Peace. 

So while you finish these words, I will take solace and comfort in the stillness of a Sunday morning and leave you and me with this final reminder from Jesus. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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Peace in the Middle

 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:7-8

peace in the middle,

Like kids, I am not sure you are supposed to say you have favorites when it comes to Bible verses. Yet, there has been a trend of “life verse” picking ever since I was a college lad at Lee University. It is carefully selecting a single verse that represents so much of what God is doing and saying in your life.

Now, I am not knocking this practice. Our family picks a verse or two as an anchor point each year. This year’s verse focuses on perseverance.

The downside of this singular verse approach is that you often miss the accompanying scenery. It is like going to the Grand Canyon and focusing on a single boulder. You miss the beauty of the vista and grandness of the canyon. Philippians 4 is the Grand Canyon of scripture. Pick any verse of the first thirteen and there you have your boulder. Just try it. Oh, let me help how about this one: “I can do all these through Christ who gives me strength.” Much like a late night TV informercial salesman I urge you, but wait there is more: “rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” Did you realize these verses are neighbors. In fact the first quoted verse is number 13. The next is numbered 4. Not books apart, not even chapters apart, mere words apart from one another.

Sandwiched between “rejoice” and “do all things” are two verses that serve as a reminder of what he gives and more importantly who HE is – PEACE.

 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It is just as easy to edit our life to see the struggle, the anxiety, the circumstances. It just as easy to focus on the single boulder that seems to stand in our way. It just as easy to make laser in on the struggle. When we expand our vision beyond the narrowness of our own vision and see the scope what we find is God’s peace and the God of peace in the middle of our rejoicing and the power to do all the things he has asked us to do. In center of the snippets is PEACE.

Sure the storms come. He still speaks peace. Sure trials are faced. He still is peace. His peace is our guard and he is our PEACE. Peace is a neighbor to our rejoicing. Peace is a neighbor to his strength in us. Peace, peace is in the center of it all.

I write this as our world is closing itself off as a protection from a virus. Anxious thoughts will arise. Uncertainty will surface. My prayer is that you know peace and know the God of peace. Peace is always in the middle, just look for it.

Grateful for Darkness

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