July 15, 2011
Gathering Peace
T. Suzanne Eller
"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
We were on a road trip and my husband started it. He sang the chorus to an old hymn, one I hadn't heard in years.
"Peace, peace, wonderful peace. Coming down from the Father above...."
The words came back and we started singing together. Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? It wasn't. Neither of us are singers, but we belted out the old tune as we drove down the road. It was a silly moment, and one I wouldn't want anyone to see (or hear!), but when I think about it, those words are powerful.
The chorus about peace was more than words. There was a time when I had no answers; yet peace pervaded and showed us how to hold tight to His promise that He was enough. When I was diagnosed with cancer, peace wrapped us close as we wept and prayed together.
Peace. Peace. Wonderful peace. Doesn't that sound inviting in a chaotic world? What would happen if peace, peace, wonderful peace covered my marriage, my relationships with my children, or my thought life?
Where is that peace found?
Just as we stopped on that road trip several times for necessary food or a bottle of cold water, God designed us to continually need Him. We gather peace throughout the day. We can ask for His peace to show us which way to turn when our instinct is to go down a dark road of sadness. We can seek His peace to cover our thought life when we want to get even or when unhealthy emotions try to take root.
His peace creates stability even if everything around us is topsy-turvey.
He's the Source of peace. There will be times when your peace quota is low. Maybe today is one of those days. Rather than worry, what might happen if you went to the Source instead? Tell Him what you need rather than carry it alone.
Thank Him for all He has done so that you can see the blessings as well as the challenges. Ask Him to give you sufficient peace for the moment. Just to carry you through the feelings to the Truth.
He offers peace, peace, wonderful peace without ever exhausting His resources at all. There is enough peace for you today, and you can find more in Him tomorrow.
Dear Lord, thank You that I don't have to live on a drop of peace, or make a cup of peace last through tomorrow. You offer me a river of peace today, and tomorrow, and continually. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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