Mind-blowing Peace.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

Peace is not the absence of difficulty, it is the ability to cope with it. We thank Ronald Reagan for such a quote - it is so very true. I often entertain the thought of moving to another planet - just to escape some of the utter turmoil in the world today - and it's getting closer to home each time. Many times we think of conflicts like civil wars in place like the middle east, but trouble is coming closer and closer to our doorsteps. Nobody can tell me that the world is just the same as what it was even just 20 years ago - things are progressively getting worse. What do we do? We become more insular, more skeptical of any and everybody, judge other based on their appearance a whole lot more and look over our shoulders each time we leave our homes. It doesn’t need to be this way. Peace is possible.

Since peace is not the absence of difficulty, why do I wish I lived on a different planet? Why do you get so scared about the state of the world we live in? Here's the simple answer; we’re human. The thought of not being able to move as freely as we’d like for fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, is very real. How do we cope? No man has the answer to this question - no agreement, no treaty, nothing can bring peace to the world. What we need is deep seated peace, one that transcends this world and our circumstances.

How do we get this peace? I hear you ask. I’m glad you did. As the verse above says, the peace we desperately need can only be found in God. He gives us “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Peace we cannot explain, peace we cannot understand. Peace when we leave our homes, peace when we are caught in a difficult situation, peace when we travel on public transport. Peace in all circumstances. Perfect Peace. Does this mean that if you believe in God you won’t worry or feel fear? No. What you will have is peace in spite of what's happening around you or in your own life. You can be at peace in the eye of your own storm.

What do you need to do to have this peace? Focus on God, ask Him for His peace. He will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Here’s what He says to you today:

Looking for peace in all the wrong places? I have just what you need. I’ll give you a peace that only I can give - you won’t be able to understand why you’re feeling so at peace but you’ll know that it’s because of Me. Ask me for that peace, I’ll give it you if you just ask.”

Pray this prayer today:

God, my mind is in turmoil right now. Not just because of the difficulties in the world today but also all the anxiety I’m experiencing around my own circumstances. Help me to accept the peace that you give and rest in you.