This peace that God gives, it really does surpass all understanding. How do I know that? Well, at this stage of my life, I’m truly convinced that the best way to know that, I mean like really REALLY know that is to have your life interrupted by trouble. Yes trouble, which is the very opposite of peace. I mean if you don’t believe me, you can ask the disciples or any of the characters out of the bible. It’s full of testimonials that will support my account of God’s peace in what? Times of trouble people! I promise you that a few torrential storms can show you exactly what you’re working with. I’m talking about storms that rage against your heart, that rage against what you know to be fair and right and storms that just show no mercy against every bit of stability in your life. Storms that seem unfair and storms that tear up everything in their path. We hate storms and we absolutely hate trouble. Truth be told, if I had it my way, I’d boycott both of them. Literally I’d walk around with picket signs shouting, “No More Storms…No More Trouble, No More Storms, No More Trouble”. But the true test of our peace is when these things are present and the proof of who lives inside of us stands up on the inside of us and shows the storm who is BOSS! This God that guards our peace, just doesn’t allow us to crack up under the pressure and I just love Him so much for that!

Let me share something with you.  I’ve seen it okay? I’ve seen people lose their total and entire mind over much less than what some of us have had to deal with. I know for me; the peace of God has certainly been my saving grace through some really earth-shattering moments over the past 3 years. A happy marriage, a healthy body, a well stacked savings account, a thriving business, a loving family, a growing ministry, that long-awaited promotion, all have the ability to bring a sense of peace to your everyday experience. Especially if you’ve longed for and/or prayed for any or all of them for any length of time. But what happens when these things are taken from you? How do you maintain peace in the absence of these things especially when you’ve lost them through no fault of your own? Especially when you’re living for God, but the people who aren’t living sacrificially for God or even have Him on their minds at all, seem to have it all and then some. I’m telling you, It is ONLY possible through the Prince of Peace who gives us the Peace of God. There have times when I literally picture Him guarding the gates of my mind. Standing there in His protective father stance, awaiting every single time the enemy makes an attempt on my peace. He’s there to answer the door and to let Satan know that He’s trespassing and that He isn’t welcome with his thoughts of abandonment, failure, rejection, doubt, disappointment and heartache.

Isaiah the prophet says it this way, The chastisement of our peace was laid upon Him. So, what does that really mean in plain English Sir? Well the amplified says it like this, “the punishment needful to obtain peace and well being for us was upon Him. So that tells me that He knew ahead of time that things would come to challenge my peace, therefore He volunteered, took the initiative and said I’ll take a whipping for that! Wait…what? Yessss! What a wonderful Savior He is. I don’t know about you, but I just fell in love with Jesus all over again for that. What kind of love is that? Who does that? Who signs up for that for millions of people until the end of time? Who volunteers to take punishment just for somebody’s peace, who probably won’t even appreciate it and could never pay them back for it? Nobody but Jesus!!! So, we could have HIS peace which is different from regular peace.  In John 14:27 (Amp) He says “My peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful, and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled”. See, and you thought that scripture was only for funerals. Jesus is clearly letting us know that He’s going to leave us with the kind of peace that HE possesses. Now that’s reassuring because Jesus was so unbothered all the time, that His responses to people truly tickle me sometimes. If only we could accurately remember consistently the awesome treasure we have in Him and the luxury that only having His kind of peace can afford. His peace is what helped the 3 Hebrews boys to say even if He doesn’t, WE WON’T BOW DOWN!!!! Hallelujah!!

Closing Prayer:   Father I thank you that your peace in our lives goes beyond our comprehension. Thank you that when the enemy comes in, like the flood, your Spirit lifts up the standard against him. It is your peace that protects us, sustains us and stabilizes us. Help us to stay in remembrance of these things when we are tempted to leave your place of peace and rest in Jesus’ name we pray Amen!