PEACE.
Of all the words or Scripture I anticipated the Lord giving me, this was not one of them. Yet it was there. Planted deeply into my soul.
It’s an odd word for me. I don’t feel like my life has ever been described as peaceful. I struggled with it to be honest. A LOT. But then the Lord reminded me that PEACEFUL and PEACE have NOTHING to do with our lives or our circumstances. Peace is WHO HE IS.
PEACE is what is possible when I choose His PRESENCE.
PEACE is what happens when HIS PRESENCE PERMEATES lives.
I decided to spend some quiet time recently, just some worship music and some Jesus. However, I realized as I was compiling my playlist that there was very little “peaceful” worship music. Most of my music is motivational, upbeat, stuff. I had an “ah-ha" moment. My soul is yearning for peace. I just didn’t know it. But of course Father God did. And so, in the wee hours of January 1, He plowed and planted the rough fields of my heart and planted the seed of peace deep and true.
It never takes long for the testing. For the storms to come and batter the young seedlings struggling to survive. But the awesome thing about what God plants is that it survives no matter what.
He waters it and tends it. He provides enough light and when He deems ready…. it bursts through beautifully and His promise over you inundates and overtakes and becomes an integral part of who you are in Him.
So peace. It’s not what I anticipated. But it is what God desires for my life for this year. So I will trust in His wisdom. I will welcome and be intentional about pursuing His promises of peace over me.
I’ve already felt His Peace as we are navigating the challenges that a four day young new year brings. And apparently, when you pastor a church that burned down, AND are now a mobile church, AND you’re still recovering from losing your own home, there are some CHALLENGES.
But for me, there is PEACE. Perfect peace. In the midst of my day, in the midst of my pain and my purpose. In the deepest part of me, HE is my PEACE.
