“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11 KJV)
The songwriter may have said it best: “When peace like a river attendeth my soul, and sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot . . . It is well with my soul.”
Peace . . . unending peace . . . in a storm . . . in a calm . . . in trouble . . . at all times and in all circumstances . . . peace. That steadfast state of mind that exceeds anything we understand.
Another songwriter wrote, “Peace, peace; Wonderful peace coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.” That is what peace is about — love. The love of the Father is so great that He blesses his people with the strength of peace.
The problem arises when we, the people, become disturbed over the circumstances occurring around us. Like Peter when he stepped out of the boat into the raging waters, we take our eyes off Jesus and begin looking at the raging problems. Up to then we were walking on top of the problems, but our problems sap our strength. If we focus on them too long, our problems will begin sucking us under and we will sink beneath them. Yet, like Peter, we can call for help from Jesus!
It would be so good if we didn’t have to worry over the days of our lives, but then we wouldn’t need to trust Jesus. If, at the flick of a finger or a word, all our problems disappeared then we wouldn’t have to depend on the One who gives the strength of peace to his people. In 2010, let us rely on the peace of God for the strength we need to overcome our fear.
Dear Father, thank you for the peace we have through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Empower us with the strength of your peace. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the strength of God’s peace,