In the midst of a conversation the other day a person said to me, “I want the sense of peace you have. How can I get it?” What an opening, right? My response was, “You caught me on a good day. Come see me tomorrow, and we’ll see if the peace is still there.” My initial somewhat flippant remark did lead into a discussion on the source of the peace that flows in and out of my heart on a daily or sometimes minute by minute basis…Jesus. However, this discussion led me to think more deeply and broadly about what peace means to me, and it’s two-fold.
Yes, the peace I exhibit on occasion has its source in Jesus; however, it’s the relationship with Him that fortifies my peace.
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This is one of my favorite verses. In the church I attended while growing up the pastor used the second part of this verse as the benediction each Sunday, and it gave great comfort to hear it prayed over me. I wish having it read over me each week was all it took to have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” There are days when I wake with a great sense of peace in my heart, but mostly it takes a bit more on my part. For me, I need to be in communion with God.
com·mun·ion n.
1. The act or an instance of sharing, as of thoughts or feelings.
2. Religious or spiritual fellowship.
What does communion with God look like for me? It’s reading His Word, going to Him in prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit so that His plan can become my plan on a daily basis. It means being in fellowship with others to worship and hold each other accountable in righteousness. A friend shared this quote with me not that long ago, “Peace is not being without noise, trouble or hard work. Peace is being in the midst of the noise, trouble and hard work and being calm at heart.” It’s easy to be at peace when life is calm; my challenge is a peaceful heart in the midst of challenges and chaos. What about you? For me, it takes extra effort to be in communion with God when the challenges start to mount.
Which leads me to the other component of peace. Being in relationship means the flow must go both ways… it’s not just about MY heart. Dang it, I wish it were all about me! God’s peace isn’t just for my heart, but for those around me – there’s a justice component to God’s peace. In the book of Isaiah, the prophecy is of Jesus as the Prince of Peace. If I’m in communion with God I can be part of His plan for peace, but I can only know His plan if I’m listening for direction from the Holy Spirit. Perhaps there’s a reason Philippians verse 6 talks about prayer prior to mentioning God’s peace in verse 7? I’m just saying! There’s a prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi that reminds me…it’s not just about me.
The prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Yes, I pray for “world peace” wishing I weren’t prepping to send my husband off to war. However, as I’m listening to the Spirit, I believe what it being whispered in my ear is to keep working on the peace of my own heart, and to be a source of His peace for others in my midst…
to love where there is hate
to pardon where there is injury
to lend faith where there is doubt
to give hope where there is despair
to bring light where there is darkness
to give joy where there is sadness
to console
to understand
True peace to me is offering the peace God gives me to others even in the midst of the challenges and chaos of my own life. Some days I succeed, and more often than not I fail. Each day is a new opportunity to step more confidently into HIS peace plan.
What does peace mean to you?
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Blessings
Sarah
(St. Francis of Assisi Icon by Robert Lentz, OF)
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