Peace

This week I was reading in a devotional book that I love, "Streams in the Desert". Right in the middle of the devotional I read this question,

"Is is possible for us who are so easily moved by earthly things to come to a point where nothing can upset us or disturb our peace?"

My eyes and my heart froze on that question. I had never thought about it like before. I have, over the years, become convinced that peace can be found in any circumstance or dark night. Peace can be RE-FOUND. For some reason I have never thought about the fact that I can STAY in a place of peace no matter what....no matter what! Is it really possible? I pondered that all week. Every scripture I read went through the filter of that looming question. Is it possible not to ever lay in bed and worry? Is it possible to look at the challenges in front of me and not feel a knot in my stomach? Is it possible to stand at a threshold, walking into total darkness and have complete peace? Is it possible to face unbelievable grief and not lose hope? I knew I had to figure it out, because if that is possible then I WANT IT!

As I read and pondered, the question changed. New questions formed: "Do I believe that God is always FOR me? (Rom 8:31) Do I believe that HE guards all that is mine? (PS 16) Do I believe He is compassionate and gracious? (PS 103) Do I believe that He is able? (Eph 3:20)

As I think back over my life, I realize that too many times I have let circumstances shake my confidence in my Savior. I, like the disciples, stand in my boat, drinched, with the waves crashing around me and I scream out, "I'm going to drown here! Are you sleeping or what??" (Matt 8, my translation) Jesus said to them and says to me, "Where is your faith? What in the world has your confidence been in anyway? In smooth waters?"

So now my question is this, Why would I get upset or lose my peace for even one minute except that my confidence is not fully in Him? My faith is weak.

I couldn't read the Bible for very long without coming to the conclusion that..Yes, it is possible to live every minute in a place of peace, unshakable. So many have gone before me, lived much harder things than I ever will, and kept peace and faith.

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." PS 125:1

"God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns." PS 46:5

So my prayer today is, "Give me faith like that, Lord. Shake up whatever needs to be shaken in my life to take me to the point where I can no longer be shaken by anything or lose my peace.

I surrender: my life, my earthly possessions, my reputation, my health, my loved ones, my relationships, my hopes and dreams. These are the things that I hold tightly and lose my peace over when they are threatened. Now they are Yours to guard, to give, or to take."

May we learn how to live in a place of peace, no matter what is going on around or inside of us.

He alone is our peace! Eph 2:14