Peace

This week has been a very stressful week for many people. Many of us are closely watching the financial crisis that is affecting the financial markets in the United States, along with the banking and credit industries and this is posing a great threat to our national economy and our way of life. Some people are wondering if their 401 k plans will recover from the losses and others are worried that their life savings and investments will fail. So a lot of us could say we have good reason to worry. If we are honest, we would have to say we are worried and lacking any real peace of mind. For some of us, peace is very hard to find in our daily lives because we are worried about our families, our jobs, our health, our marriage and a host of many other concerns. Yet, the Lord Jesus, gave us a wonderful promise in John 14:27 when he said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)
I have been pondering--do we really appropriate that peace He offers us? How might it change our lives if we did! Because of our lack of peace, we suffer from anxiety, high blood pressure, sleepless nights, inability to accomplish all we should, and more.
Are you a worrier? I am about certain things -- Oh I do fine with little things that aren’t too difficult to handle, but when it comes to things close to my heart, I worry a lot. But you know what? Sometimes I think we believe that worrying is just part of "doing our part." But actually, worry is sin. Paul warns us in Romans 14:23 with these words, “But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (NRSV)
If we truly lived in His peace, I believe it could revolutionize our lives. We would have less heartache, fewer sleepless nights, lower blood pressure, and most likely be more productive, also! So no matter what situations we are dealing with right now in our lives, realize that God is in control of everything, and the Lord Jesus is the one who can speak peace into your life and the situations you face. Begin each day by praying that God will help you to grasp and utilize the peace God wants you to live in. He can give you that peace, and what a difference it will make.