Saturday, July 14, 2012

What Is Peace?

I was reading the last sections of Psalm 119 the other day and was struck by this verse:

Great peace have they who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165 (NIV 1984)
Peace . . . who doesn't want that? Inner calm . . . stillness . . . restful, right?

But then I read the next verses, and they were not at all like my opinion of peace. Here's a quick summary and my paraphrase of the psalmist's peace.
Psalm 119:166-176
I wait . . .
I obey . . .
I cry . . .
I pray . . .
I praise . . .
I sing . . .
I've chosen Your precepts . . .
I long for Your salvation . . .
I delight in Your law . . .
I've strayed . . .
but I've not forgotten Your commands.

I learned some things:
Peace is not the absence of pain.
Peace is not freedom from failure.

Peace is the ability to love God's Word in the midst of it all. It's far more than inner calm and stillness.
May you take some time to rest your soul this weekend, but may God's peace be with you as you wait, obey, cry, pray, praise . . . and embrace God's Word.
ferree

"For the Christian, peace is not simply the absence of conflict, or any other artificial state the world has to offer. Rather it is the deep abiding peace only Jesus Christ brings to the heart.
Billy Graham, from the book Billy Graham In Quotes,
offered on our Free Book Give-Away this month.
Comment today!


2 comments:

  1. Thank you for this thoughtful scenario. I love that peace that only God can provide! I'm so very grateful for that. And God just keeps refreshing it. As far as peace and hope concerning grief...I heard someone on TV yesterday make the following statement: "Your loved one is a much greater hope for your future than he/she was in your past.". This is God's promise to us as Christians that we will see our loved ones again. My sweet husband's name was Jim. I wonder if I will see him first or Jesus? :) [ReginaV]

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  2. Thank you for the insight my prayer since my beloved husband went home has been for peace,comfort,healing....I pray the Lord helps me grasp and experience His complete peace. Halima

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