Devotional Thoughts: How to Have Peace

God’s Peace, incomprehensible Peace, Peace that doesn’t even make sense is available to us. This verse says it guards my heart and mind.

The verse right before this one tells us to be anxious about nothing. How do we do that? It says to give our requests to God in every situation with thanksgiving. By giving God my anxiety and worry, I release it. I trust God will handle it. Many circumstances that arise in life I know I cannot handle but after expressing these to God my burden is lifted. I can press on.

This doesn’t mean that everything will be ok. It does mean that ultimately I know whatever happens, even if I die I know I am with God. I am His and that’s what matters most.

Years ago a professor taught me that it’s a healthy exercise to give things, and even people back to God. We humans try to take control in situations where we need to let God work. I am guilty of this! Some days we need to say, “God, I don’t even know what’s best to do. I give this person to You, I give my feelings to You, I give this circumstance to You. I cannot handle it anymore.” This exercise is then followed by naming my gratitude, making a list of what I’m grateful for. I find when I do this I have a greater peace in my life. I can withstand much more than I thought I could.

When I do this my thoughts settle, my anxiousness fades, my worry is defeated and I can focus and not make things worse in my thought life. This protects me from bitterness and anger that can fester and create more sin and division.

Saying one should have peace about everything isn’t healthy. It’s normal to grieve. It’s normal to be angry, and it’s normal to get upset and disagree. It’s what we do with these things that determine whether or not we have peace.