Photo by Sunyu on Unsplash
What comes to mind when you think of the word ” peace ?” As I was preparing to write these thoughts I looked up synonyms for both “peace” and “panic.” Here’s what I found:
Synonyms of Peace:
tranquility, calm, calmness,
stillness, silence, restfulness,
Synonyms of Panic:
be alarmed, be scared, be nervous,
be afraid, overreact, become panic-stricken,
take fright, be filled with fear, be terrified,
be agitated, be hysterical, frighten,
alarm, scare, unnerve
Are you surprised that there are more synonyms for the word panic than peace? I was. Yet, these two words could not be more opposite when understanding God’s Peace.
What exactly is God’s Peace?
According to scripture, the peace of God, “which transcends all understanding,” is the harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit that supersedes any earthly circumstances.
When we develop a lifestyle of making the Lord our refuge, we begin to experience and live in this peace of God (Psalm 46:1; 62:8)
I’ve often heard that we are either headed into a crisis, in the midst of one, or coming out of one. How do we find peace when we are in the middle of a crisis, especially now during this pandemic? Maybe you’re suffering a job loss, or your marriage is on the rocks. Maybe a loved one is going through health problems or … you fill in the blank . Whatever your burdens are during this time, staying hopeful will help you find peace and comfort until the storm subsides.
Here are three steps that can help each of us stay hopeful and find a more peaceful heart:
- Keep your focus on God, not your situation. Redirect your thoughts and praise God. (Philippians 4:8) Easier said than done some times! But when we direct our focus on God and not ourselves we find joy and peace.
- Go to God in prayer. He expects us to tell Him what burdens our hearts and give it to Him so we can rest and let Him take over those problems. When we do that He gives us peace. (Philippians 4:7)
- Stay confidant and strong – don’t give up. If we do as God teaches, scripture tells us we will find peace (Philippians 4:9). When we listen to God’s voice, we receive His peace because we have Him with us.
Ultimately, what we must believe to have consistent peace in our hearts, minds and spirits, is to know God will see us through it no matter how difficult the situation may be. He is not only with us but walking hand in hand with us , always. And that’s the kind of internal peace that will get us through any circumstances.
Posted in Faith in Work, Prayer
