Have you ever experienced a season of disturbance in your life where you can't seem to shake the stress, anxiety, and worry of the circumstances? You find yourself in need of the one quality that seems elusive and hidden — peace.
What you need more than anything is God's peace. His peace is something you can experience even in the midst of the most turbulent adversities. It is like a soothing, calm waters on a stormy day.
Jesus said, "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27 NLT). The Lord's peace abides in the heart and chases away fear and distress.
Billy Graham spoke about the peace of God —
Everyone who knows the Lord Jesus Christ can go through any problem, face death and still have the peace of God in his or her heart. When your spouse dies, or your children get sick, or you lose your job, you can have a peace that you don't understand. You may have tears at a graveside, but you can have an abiding peace, a quietness.
Billy Graham in Decision Magazine, 1977
Peace is a gift we need to open up and enjoy. One of the greatest roads to God's peace is prayer. Paul said, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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 4:6-7 NLT).
Prayer is an action that is an alternative to worry. When you are worried, pray to God. When you are afraid, pour out your heart in prayer to the Lord. Prayer—passionate prayer—is the key that unlocks the door to God's peace.
I love this little hummingbird that I had the opportunity to photograph in Sedona at a workshop led by wildlife photographer, Kathleen Reeder. I was able to capture it with my full-frame Nikon D810, a long 80-400mm Nikkor telephoto lens, and a multi-flash setup that included a remote and four flashes. This special photography setup allowed me to capture the hummingbird in mid-flight and stop the action. The thing I love about this image is that it gives me such a sense of peace—you can see the serenity of this bird though its wings are moving so fast that you cannot see their detail in real time.
That is the way it is with God's peace. Though you see the turbulent circumstance and the winds of a storm, God's peace is the calm that brings quiet to your heart. You see the face of your Master, His smile and unworried confidence, and you know that it is well with your soul. Time in His presence as you pour out your heart brings His supernatural peace.
So, dear friend, take some time today to talk with God and unwrap the wonderful gift of God's peace in Jesus. You will begin to enjoy all the benefits of living in His peace.
Lord, today we thank You for Your peace especially in times of turbulence and anxiety. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Blessings ♡ Grace
