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In the past, I have talked about faith being more than a feeling. But peace works the same way. Peace is also a daily decision that we have to make. It is a choice to live peacefully because life can be anything but that.
If you’re anything like me, your mind can get so far in the future that you’re already anxious and nervous about things that haven’t even happened yet. That’s what anxiety is. Anxiety is a “feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” It’s preparing for tomorrow when today hasn’t even finished. It sounds mentally exhausting, right?? Trust me, I can say it is from personal experience.
If you can relate, I can confidently point to the source of our anxiousness and worry. Sis, what we’re missing is peace. A lack of peace looks like having “a lot on your mind.” Spiritually, it is when your mind is focused on EVERYTHING but God. But the good part about peace is that we can access it at ANY TIME.
So what is peace and how can we have it? Peace is knowing that everything is going to be alright because God is in control. Everything may NOT be alright right now but it is a confidence that it WILL be alright. Peace is resting because you trust God’s character and ability. It is confidence in knowing that God is who He says he is. Peace is making a choice to not worry even though it may be warranted.
One of the verses I have been looking at over and over is Matthew 6:34 which says “REFUSE to worry about tomorrow but deal with each challenge that comes your way ONE DAY at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Basically, “One day’s trouble is enough for ONE day.” Ain’t that the truth? Sis, God is literally telling us that the key to peace is to enjoy the present.
There’s a reason God tells us that peace is found in the PRESENT. I’ve found that there’s nothing that can destroy our peace quicker than focusing on the past and future. Not too long ago, I heard a definition of the future that I never knew and it SHOOK ME. The future is “the period of time following the moment of speaking or writing.” This is why we literally have to speak about things that are NOT as if they ARE. Sis, our future is literally based on what we speak or write. We’re either in agreement with God or not. This is why peace is so important.
Peace is so necessary because it influences our words and what we believe about ourselves. Think about it. You can tell someone has peace based on what comes out of their mouth. When something happens, think about what flies out of your mouth. You know I love quotes and I have to throw one into every blog post so here’s another one that I heard the other day, “If you believe you can, you’re right. If you believe you can’t, you’re right. Your mind, body, and spirit will align with what you say and believe. Your body takes on the posture of what you believe. Basically, your body will follow what you say. Life and death are LITERALLY in the power of the tongue. So what are you speaking or writing?”
Right now, I want to take this time to speak peace over you and me. Did you know that having peace is a promise from God himself? Now before explaining this, I want to say that God NEVER promised us that everything would be peaceful but he did promise peace. John 16:33 says, “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”
God gave us access to peace. The beautiful thing is God didn’t give us access to a raggedy peace that breaks down in the middle of life’s toughest situation. Nope. He promised us a perfect, sturdy, and lasting peace. (Isaiah 26:3) This peace is not the absence of trouble but does come with the presence of God. It’s a promise that God is ALWAYS there, even when it doesn’t feel like He is.
You may be thinking that this peace I just described sounds crazy but I challenge you to try it out. Something powerful happens when we turn towards God. We can’t focus on two things at the same exact time. So when we do this, our focus shifts from our problems to Him. It’s the “nearness” of God that calms us. Here’s what happens. When we get closer to God and everything that He embodies—love, joy, peace, etc… These things take over. Our problems don’t go away but the worry you felt will. Why is this?
When our relationship with God is tight, Romans 8:28 becomes a real thing—“We know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Don’t forget that last part—this scripture ONLY works when we are in God’s will and purpose.)
When you know EVERY. SINGLE. THING. you go through will be worked out for good, that is a DIFFERENT level of peace. It’s a level of confidence knowing that no matter what happens in my life, God is going to work it out for good. The situations I go through may not BE good or FEEL good, but by the time God is done with it, he will MAKE it good.
That’s the kind of peace I want. The beautiful thing, sis, is that is the kind of peace we have access to. Let’s tap into it.
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P.S. Anxiety and worry can be exhausting. It’s time that your soul gets some rest. Here’s a devotional that I recently read that speaks to this.
Title: Finding Rest
A soul resting in God says, “I don’t need to know the details, I just need to trust in God.” Trust that at the right time, God will make things clear in His timing. He may not answer all the what’s, why’s, and how’s in our timing, but He will eventually make it clear. The only way to find rest for your soul is by entering a spiritual rest. The only way to enter a spiritual rest is by trusting in God. Our soul is where the spiritual battles are taking place. There is a constant pulling of our thoughts, emotions, and wills. When we trust, pray, and wait on God, we will find rest for our souls.
He will lead, guide, and never leave or forsake us because that’s what He promised us (Deuteronomy 31:6). All the noise, all the thoughts, and emotions will come under submission of the supernatural peace of God, which is found in His rest. If you’re seeking direction, rest in Him.
You can’t hear God and wait on Him if you’re consumed with all your thoughts and your busyness. The world says work, worry, and wonder, but the spirit of a SoulSister says wait, worship, and watch.
Scriptures to lean on: (I recommend reading in the Passion Translation or New Living Translation)---PICK A FEW that will be your go-to verses
Philippians 4:6-7
Deuteronomy 31:6
1 Peter 5:7
John 16:33
Isaiah 26:3
Psalm 31
John 14:27
Numbers 6:25
Matthew 11:28
Jeremiah 29:11
Remember these things:
Try not to worry about anything because worry is the enemy of peace. Instead, pray about everything.
Tell God the details of what’s going on in your life and then you will experience God’s peace which goes beyond human understanding. (God’s peace is released when we are first honest with him.)
We don’t have to worry about the future because God goes AHEAD of us. He knows how all the puzzle pieces will fit together.
God NEVER told us we wouldn’t go through difficult moments in this life. But God DID promise us that he will never fail or abandon us. Sometimes, when understanding what it means to be a Christian, we can feel that God lied to us. We think life was supposed to be ALL good after having a relationship with God. You may be feeling like Christianity was sold to you on a lie. But if anyone told you that, I’m so sorry. Difficulties are unfortunately a part of life on earth. That’s why we NEED God. He walks us through those moments.
KNOW that peace can exist at the SAME time as your difficult or hard situation. Peace isn’t based on the situation and if/when it gets better. It comes from God and God alone.
God’s peace doesn’t make sense. When it happens, others may look at you and say “You should be worried. I would be.” But you will have this indescribable peace. STAY in that no matter what anyone says. It may feel weird to experience this peace for the first time but it’s real. It will get you through your darkest moments.
Whenever you want peace, just ask God for it. God never withholds his peace. It is ALWAYS available.