"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
"Peace: (1) a state of tranquility or quiet...(2) freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions" (Merriam-Webster)
Is there only one kind of peace? The world seems to say there is. When I think of peace, my first thought is stillness and tranquility, quiet and gentle. This is what we are taught. I don't believe, however, that there is only one type of peace for all humanity. I believe peace comes differently to all of us. After all, we are all unique individuals. Our minds interpret it differently
In the scripture above, the Lord is speaking about His peace, which we can receive.He includes only two qualifiers for this peace: that our hearts are not troubled, and that we are not afraid. I find this interesting. Peace can be very different from what the mainstream identifies it as. I believe peace is not just quiet and stillness. It is not just a state of tranquility, though that is still peaceful.
Peace can be movement. It can be bright and energetic. I would define peace as security and confidence, in all that is occurring in your life. Peace is, as the Lord said, not being upset or afraid. My peace often comes when I am busy, but not so busy that it's hard to handle. It comes with energy and strength to make it through each day, as well as happiness and confidence. I find myself standing taller, smiling brighter, and mumbling less when I feel "at peace." I find myself saying "Everything will work out." At these times, I feel safe in the knowledge that the Lord has my back.
We can find the truest peace through the Lord. He will deliver it to us in our times of need, if we are willing to lean on Him. His peace will free us to live our lives as who we are, without worldly concerns holding us down. All we must do is follow the path He has set- a path that is not restricting, that leads to being the best that we can be.
Prayer is key to finding this peace. Without prayer, our need is in vain. We must humble ourselves and ask for His help, and be willing to accept it however it may come. Sometimes help comes from others, and sometimes it is simply strength to keep pushing on. The Lord will give us what we need. Peace is knowing that, and knowing that our Father will take care of us.
We must all find our own peace in Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment