By Callie Payne
Nothing quite compares to peace. Just hearing the word makes you want to breathe a breath of fresh air, doesn’t it? As a chronic overthinker, I wanted to share with you some of the verses that I keep in the forefront of my thoughts when worries begin to try and take over my heart and mind.
I think we can all say that we have experienced things that shake us up from the peaceful comfort zone we often find ourselves in. When those hard times come (and they will), you can draw peace from knowing the Creator still has you in the palm of His hand!
He gives peace in your trials.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7.
This verse doesn’t mean that you’ll always understand the “why?” behind everything that happens in your life. This verse really means that God gives you the peace that surpasses even needing to know the reason. His peace keeps your heart and mind steady! Don’t start letting gray hairs pop up because of a problem you know is out of your control. It’s in His hands, and He’s never once failed!
This can be said when thinking about our big plans and dreams for the future! Is there something you’re hoping for? Maybe you’re already planning for the next big step? It might be something you’re just simply looking forward to or something you’re not quite sure about — are you becoming anxious in the waiting?
Sometimes we get a plan in our heads and then begin to stress when things aren’t exactly on track.
He gives peace in your trusting.
“In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul,” Psalm 94:19.
How many times can we describe our thought pattern as “a multitude”? When our mind is flooded with the “what if’s” and the “maybe’s,” there’s not a whole lot of space left over for God.
There’s something pretty scary about trying to figure out all of your future plans alone and not leaving room for God to work and have His way in your life. Are we so self-centered that we cannot sit back and trust Him? Trust Him. That’s when we can find the perfect peace that Isaiah 26 is talking about! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee,” Isaiah 26:3.
When your mind is at peace and stayed on Christ, it becomes extremely difficult to have a carnal mind. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” Romans 8:6.
He gives peace through your testimony.
“…to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” What a verse! Think of the testimony you have with your peers, your circle of influence. Could it be said about you that you’re living each day with life and peace? What a testimony to believers and unbelievers! Check your mind today. Are you not at peace because there is sin between you and the Lord? Do you find yourself carnally thinking about your surrounding circumstances?
The world is watching you and sees the way you respond in a stressful and uncomfortable situation. Are you displaying life and peace or the opposite? Do they want what you have?
I’m sure we’re all guilty of overreacting or responding negatively at one time or another, but if that’s a habit for you, maybe take a few moments and reflect about how your testimony of strife, unkind words, or blunt rebuke to others could be a stumbling block to others.
Compare what the impact a testimony of peace can look like to the world over a testimony of rude words and strife.
“Well if you would’ve heard what they said to me, you would’ve done the same thing—“
“Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them,” Psalm 119:165.
“Great peace” here means you’re not only at peace but prospering in that peace. You might even consider it as an intense enjoyment. What a life! You can have not only that peace in loving His law, relying on His plan for your future, and leaving on Him in the trials, but also enjoy it!
Lastly, I’ll share a verse that I wrote down on several notecards and put around my home as a constant reminder. I’ve been reading it over and over again, and it has really become something I’m striving for in my everyday walk.
”Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it,” Psalm 34:14.
Depart from evil. Do good. How simple to just step away from the carnal world and mindset. The verse continues by saying to seek peace. Be on the lookout for an opportunity to find peace. When playing hide and seek, you usually don’t stop until you find everyone you’re looking for, right? What if every day we woke up and began seeking peace in every aspect of our lives — that work situation…that conflict with a friend or lady in the church…the problem we keep mulling over in our minds that is growing by the day?
I’m learning that it becomes difficult to be anxious and scared about all of the many cares of this world if I go about my day pursuing His perfect peace. Pursue peace in the trial you may be in, find peace in trusting Him with your future, create a peaceful testimony that you can be known by, and you’ll experience great peace as you’re right in the center of His will.