by Nancy Kay Grace
Do you long for peace in a world of turmoil?
Have you found yourself overextended by pressures or frazzled by uncertainty? The pandemic has added another layer of stress on everyone, as we’ve had to adapt in many ways. Add to that any interpersonal problems or anxiety regarding health issues, and concentration becomes more difficult. I find my mind spins faster and flits from one thought to another when confusion ramps up. When the mind races, the heart loses peace.
At those times, peace seems unattainable and far away.
Yet Jesus gave the promise of peace. How can peace co-exist with turmoil?
I witnessed this unusual co-existence while my husband and I hiked along a mountain stream. The early summer rains and snow melt flowed through a valley. Although sections of the trail were underwater, we kept hiking, stepping on rocks to crisscross the winding stream. We were determined to see the waterfall at the end of the trail. As we approached the waterfall, we heard the roar of the water tumbling off a rugged cliff from thirty feet above. Closer, the crash of the water over the rocks sprayed my face. It was exhilarating being close enough to feel the coolness and hear the power of nature.
Glancing down at the pool of water at the base of the falls, I noticed a great contrast. One side of the pool churned and bubbled under the waterfall, but the water on the other side of the rocky basin remained smooth and undisturbed. On the calm water rested a butterfly, oblivious to the swirling water only a few feet away.
Crashing water on one side, gentle butterfly on the other. Turmoil and peace coexisted side by side.
Peace in the Bible is characterized by shalom, which is more than the absence of hostility. It is the wholeness that comes through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Peace allows us to rest secure in him in the midst of insecurity. The Lord is the creator of real peace, a true refuge of security and safety.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gave us these promises for the times of turmoil:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Remembering those promises calmed my anxious heart when I faced the uncertainty of cancer surgery. Jesus gave me true peace in the midst of turmoil. By spending time with the Lord in prayer and the Scriptures, God’s power and tranquility soaks into us.
What a blessing it is to look to the Prince of Peace instead of the turmoil of the world!
This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).
About the author: Nancy Kay Grace is thankful for the gift of peace in the face of turmoil. She is a speaker and award-winning author of The Grace Impact, a devotional about the touch of God’s grace in our lives.
Visit https://www.nancykaygrace.com to sign up for her monthly Grace Notes devotional newsletter. You can also connect with Nancy on Facebook or Instagram.
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