Yesterday my grandson was talking about baseball and his favorite teams. It took me back to my childhood when my dad would watch baseball. We resided in New York state, but he was not a Yankees fan. Instead, he chose to support the Red Socks out of Boston. From those early years I became very familiar with the umpire declaring emphatically when necessary, “You’re out!” In other words, after three tries if the batter missed the ball he was finished.
I am so glad that we are not declared out when it appears that we are still trying to figure things out! These past weeks I have gathered with women in our Bible Study to understand the peace of God. When I realized the other day that we have spent three consecutive weeks on this portion of our study, I had a strong witness in my spirit. What can seemly be explained, due to circumstances can actually be for an entirely different reason.
So, the first two paragraphs of this post are meant to set the stage, if you will, for what I am about to say. I often write that God is not random, and I believe it to be completely true. When things don’t follow along in the logical manner that we would expect, then I think we need to look outside of the box.
Peace is an important piece of the Christian life, and we must not only acknowledge this, but we must understand what peace really does mean. Fully understanding the peace of God will give us the absolute resolve to carry on through the storm, but in peace. Peace is not easily explained or accepted by an unbelieving world. Consequentially, as believers we can have peace when the people around us are scattered in many directions. Upon observation, they may even question why we are behaving in this way.
Peace is a supernatural gift from God to His children. It is knowing what you know, even when you can’t explain it to others. It is knowing that all will turn out well, even when it looks just the opposite. It is having the peace of God, His peace, that goes well beyond any words that we have to explain what it means. As believers peace brings us stability and balance. It is what we carry with us, and it has the ability to change the very atmosphere. Peace is a powerful weapon when used against the attacks of our enemy. It has a way of disarming and literally causing his schemes to back fire directly into his face.
The other day I drove by a small country church. There was a sign posted out in the front that caught my immediate attention. It said, “Let Jesus be the peace in your storm.”
That sign told me that Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, will be with us in our storm. Therefore, in the midst of our storm Jesus is with us, and since His peace cannot be separated from Him, then His peace is present, too. Jesus has retained His peace, even as He has shared that peace with us. For our part, we must first receive His peace that He gives us, believe His peace right into our hearts, and then watch to see the evidence of His peace play out in our lives.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
John 14:27 CSB “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”