Thankful for Peace

It has been a really long week. Lots of things have been going on all at once. Some really good stuff. Some really hard stuff. And some stuff that just does not matter in the big scheme of life. But, have you ever noticed, the stuff that just does not matter is the stuff that gets to us? It bogs us down in anxious worry and seems to consume way too much of our thought process.


This week I have let the little things take my focus off of the important things. The eternal things. The things that do matter in the big scheme of life. For me, anything that involves one of my daughters usually gets my attention. If they are hurting or struggling in some area, I tend to think about those things with them. I have definitely learned over the years to not carry their emotions but I still let my thoughts drift to whatever they share with me about their struggles. I think all moms do. The problem comes in when I allow that thought or situation to have more of my thought process than it deserves. That is when the anxious thoughts and stress come in.


Yesterday, I had lunch with a dear friend. We have been friends for about 20 years. She is that kind of friend that just knows you. No words or explanations are required. She just gets me. We have raised our children together and we have ministered together in different areas. We have both heard and seen some really tough things over the years. We laugh and say between the two of us we have seen and heard it all. Well, at lunch she told me something about her life that left me speechless. And that does not happen often. There were no words. Nothing. All I could do was pray for her because I had no answers or reasons or comfort to offer at the moment. So we prayed right there in the restaurant. There was no other option.


My husband has been dealing with things this week too. Things that there is no clear answer for. Nothing concrete that can be put in place to deal with the situation. He doesn't carry the emotions of the situation like I do but his thoughts get caught up too. When work and church and friends and life swirl all together sometimes, his thoughts get anxious and the stress comes in.


The holidays are upon us and the busyness of this time of year is creeping in. The emotions of lost loved ones or families in dysfunction can be overwhelming for some people. But we have a weapon that is so much bigger than anything that the world can throw at us. We have Peace. And Peace is a Person.


So as we end this week and prepare our hearts and minds for a week of thankfulness, family, friends and togetherness, let's remember the kind of Peace that is available to us. The kind that transcends all understanding. The kind that flows like a river. The kind that gives rest. The kind that blesses. The kind that overcomes the world. The kind that guards our hearts and our minds. The kind that is promised to us.


Let us press in to the Prince of Peace. Lean on Him and the kind of Peace that He promises us. The kind that gives us a future. The kind that causes even our enemies to be nice to us. The kind that allows us to lie down and sleep in confident trust. The kind that is not what the world offers. The kind that allows us to live in peace with everyone. The kind that builds up each other. The kind that we crave and the kind we should pursue. 


Peace be with you, my friends!

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