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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Two alarm beeps and I’m jumping out of bed – the proverbial late start. Sleeping in just a little never felt better until it lands you scrambling to get to work on time. Attempting to recoup those lost moments snoozing just simply doesn’t happen even though we give it our best shot.

Sound like your morning? Absolutely defines mine this past week. While I was rushing to shower, my sweet husband was in the kitchen fixing my breakfast. Did I happen to mention that patience goes out the door when rushing overwhelms? Attempting to find out how I wanted my breakfast cooked, my husband’s voice was drowned out by the shower. Hearing a continuous dialogue I couldn’t understand resulted in sharp, words shooting from my lips, “What do you want?” Wow, not exactly a peaceful start to an already crazy morning.

Perhaps you’ve been there too when rushing and impatience result in unwanted drama. No one wants to start their day in chaos. We’d much rather drift into our morning with a sweet calm and our fave java brew. But let’s keep it real here – we all know transitioning from blissful sleep into our day isn’t always smooth.

Reality is peacelessness isn’t regulated to mornings. We buy into a lot of drama throughout our day. Ever found yourself caught in the web of some gossip drama in your tribe? Maybe it was more like the crazy dynamics between you and a co-worker or family member that sent you over the edge. Could it simply be those rambling thoughts coursing through your mind taking you down paths you never dreamed yet feared? Peace flees in the presence of never-ending what ifs.

We all have landed in moments when peace evades us as we fight off anxiousness, worry and lack of control. Lasting peace can’t be regulated by our world swirling around us. Zeroing in on our life instead of God guarantees our lack of His peace (Isaiah 26:3). Peace robbers will always be present on this earth. Why? Because we live in a fallen world. We are all “imperfect” humans who often mess up and life doesn’t always look pretty.

Throughout scripture peace is commonly referenced as a relationship of loyalty and love with God and others; it is not circumstantial. When we obey God’s word, He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7). When we truly love others then we can be an agent of change who transforms chaotic, supercharged moments into calm resolutions. When our peace is firmly anchored in God, we can navigate life unafraid and confident He is in control. Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be called “Prince of Peace” because only He could achieve lasting peace (Isaiah 9:6). Our souls can find rest in Him as we release anxiousness, worry and minimize drama.

Sweet friends, we don’t have to accept peacelessness as our default. Thankful for the reassuring presence of our God whose Spirit lives within us and enables us to walk in daily peace with ourselves and one another.

“Father, You are our everlasting peace. In You alone, we can take heart because You have overcome this world; we have no reason to fear.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life