Throughout life I have searched for many things, strived to achieve many things. Each time I would say to myself this will be it, this will finally fill my every need. Yet every time I found what I was looking for, or achieved what I had been striving for, once the newness of the experience wore off, I have always found myself back were I started again, still searching, still striving, still empty. I realize now, for most of my life I have really been yearning for true peace and have always felt it to be unobtainable, especially during the storms of life. I always faced them with fear and have always felt so all alone. Has your life been like this and do you feel this way also? If you find yourself like me, striving, searching and always seeming to come up empty, still yearning, aching just to be at peace, I would like to share with you that not only is peace obtainable, it is possible for you to know the greatest peace of all, especially during the storms of life, and that is God's peace.
Peace (or shalom as it is used in the Bible) means "Completeness".... "Soundness".....and Well being. It may mean material prosperity as well as physical safety. It is also more importantly, a spiritual well being. This spiritual peace is given to us in so many ways through Jesus. His sacrifice for sin gives us peace with God. This is followed by an inner peace that is unhindered by the world's strife, for this peace is not from this world, but from our Heavenly Father. Jesus said to His disciples, when they were fearful at His words of leaving them, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)..... Jesus is again stating facts and promises that leave no doubt that His peace is with you and He gives it to you completely.
In (Phil. 4:6) Paul says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Now you can choose to worry about all the endless possibilities that might happen to you and thus expend all your energy on "maybes or what ifs". Your mind is so pre-occupied by these ghosts, (as I call them) gnawing at you, that you allow no room for God's peace to comfort you. Honestly how many times in your life have you worried about something and it never happened? Worry not only eats away at you, but it is the very thing that is keeping you from God's peace. God Himself will take on your troubles as you allow Him to fill you instead of the unbelief of worry. In fact, the best is yet to come. As you read (Phil 4:7) " And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Who better to guard your heart than Jesus? So you can choose to allow "worry" to surround your heart, or the love and peace of "Jesus." Need I ask your choice?
I don't know what circumstances you are facing today. The climb out of the pit of your circumstances may seem unsurmountable and unbearable, with obstacles that hinder your every step with worry and turmoil. One fact remains though. In your times of pain, fear or anguish, you can experience the ever present and unceasing peace which comes straight from the precious and compassionate heart of Jesus. His peace will fill your heart completely as it flows unceasingly and abundantly. He freely gives it, it is yours and as He is perfect so is His peace. All you need do is believe it and allow yourself to receive it.
When you placed your trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross, it wasn't only forgiveness of sins that you received, but all that comes with being a child of God. So when the storms come your way, there is a calmness within that storm, and that is Jesus. He is your refuge, your fortress for every storm. He is hand in hand with you, and will steady you during the storm. Just as He rebuked the winds during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He can and will do the same for you. His peace is within you where the storms of life cannot reach, as you allow yourself to focus on Him and not the storm. He may not take away your trial or circumstance but He will always provide whatever you need to weather the storm. He is not oblivious to your pain for He suffered the same pain as we do. Please whatever you are facing right now, just once again walk up to the cross, get down on bended knee, focus upon Him as you pray. Lift up your hand, you will soon feel His hand in yours, as He reaches down and lifts you up out of the pit of your circumstance, and into the shelter of His everlasting arms
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