We are going to continue on our journey exploring how to handle “Turning Points” in our lives. Remember a “turning point” can be a new job, getting married, a new home, divorce, bankruptcy, losing a loved one and many other things life brings to us. How we handle these changes in our lives makes all the difference in the world. Today we are going to discuss how to have peace in the midst of a “turning point” in our life.
Phil 4:4-7 NLT ” 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s PEACE, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
In the 1960’s during the “Hippie” movement, people were wearing “peace” signs and holding “peace signs” at anti-war protests. When we attend funerals we may hear the words, may he/she rest in peace. What exactly is peace? Is peace merely the absence of turmoil or war? Is peace something we think we want at any cost? Is that truly peace?
The Bible tells us in Philippians chapter 4 verse 7 that we can experience God’s peace in every situation. If you go back to the Greek definition of the word peace in this passage, it means:
NT:1515 eirene (i-ray’-nay); probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:
KJV – one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again.
(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Let’s study the definition, “set at one again”. This definition of peace has the implication of a broken arm that is set back into place and heals. My son broke his arm during his school days. To our surprise, the doctor told us that after he set Eric’s broken arm back into place and it went through the 6 week healing process, that the “broken” arm would be stronger that his other arm that had never been broken.
When we are anxious, worrying, distraught , or fretful, we cannot be in peace. We cannot think properly. Our thinking is “stinking thinking”. We can easily turn a molehill into a mountain. Basically, we are broken. When we worry and try to make a decision, we have a high probability of making a bad decision. Remember that verse 6 tells us:
- Don’t worry about anything;
- instead, pray about everything.
- Tell God what you need,
- and thank Him for all he has done.
We need to give our brokenness to Jesus. Jesus can take our brokenness and bring not only healing, but “wholeness” to our lives and situations. What is the difference between healing and wholeness? Someone can be healed of cancer, but have had a breast removed. Although the cancer is gone, they are still missing a body part. If the same person is not only healed, but made whole, the cancer is gone and the breast is restored to their body. Gloria Copeland’s call this peace, “Nothing missing, nothing broken”.
We can even experience peace in the midst of the storm. Peace that is far more wonderful than our human minds can understand! My husband Eddie shared with me while in intensive care after having been airlifted from one hospital to another and then rushed into emergency surgery where they put two stints in his heart this past July, that if there was ever a time to be engulfed in fear, worry and anxiety it was then. He shared with me the peace of knowing that God was in control and he didn’t have any “unfinished” business with anyone was beyond his human comprehension. At a time Eddie should have been engulfed in fear, he was in perfect peace. That same peace of God was flooding my heart, mind and soul at the same time. It was so precious having such peace in the time of trouble!
God once asked me a sobering question. He said, “Becky, if I can’t do anything about the situation, what do you think you are going to do?” You might as well put your trust and confidence in God and receive His peace!
I decree Shalom, Shalom ,…Peace, Peace over you today. Why don’t you say, “Shalom, Shalom…Peace, Peace over me.”! You can speak peace into your life…and that is for another blog. : )
Becky Cain
6 Comments on “Peace in the Midst of the Storm”
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