Daily Devotional

We as humans are strange creatures.  We run faster when we lose our way.  Instead of pausing to regroup, we ricochet from place to place.  We do not pause to orient ourselves.  We usually refuse to ask for help.

When pressing demands are on us, we need to stop and orient ourselves spiritually.  We need to discover that the Lord is God, He will be exalted, He is with us, and He is our stronghold.  Today, in this stress producing world we need to be reminded again of the words of the Psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength…A very present help in trouble.  The word “trouble” is defined to be restricted, to be tied up in a narrow, cramped place.  We say we are “between a rock and a hard place.”

So how do we find peace when we are pressed in on all sides?  When we are pushed down and our weakness is displayed, God is building a refuge.  He is protecting us.  He is surrounding us with His care and strength.

We constantly face stress producing situations…the death of a family member or friend, a divorce in the family, loss of employment, the heartache brought on by a sick child, the news from a physician that there is some question concerning an x-ray or test.

Today, let’s listen to the words of Jesus and see how he wants us to have peace as we face the pressures of life.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”   (John 14:27 NKJV)

When our world or our life is in turmoil, God provides a peace that surpasses all understanding.  This peace is an antidote to worry/stress.  When the world would be panicking and others are frantic, God gives calmness amidst the storms of life.  It is a peace that only He can give and it is a peace that only His children can experience.  This peace is a sense of rest and contentment.
 
Experiencing God’s peace does not mean the absence of trials on the outside.  It does mean that God gives us a quiet confidence within, regardless of circumstances, people, or things.  We have complete trust in God even though we don’t understand why.  This peace goes beyond human reasoning so that when others are disturbed by the events of life, we have a confidence that God is in control.

“…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:7 NKJV)

Humanly, we want to bring matters into our own control but instead we trust God to work out all the details.  This confidence produces a trust …even when it does not seem rational.  We have perfect peace in giving the situation/problem/need to God to do what is best.  We then find refuge in a trusting relationship with the Lord.

Prayer:  Lord, when the pressures of life cause me to want to run in fear, let me instead run into Your arms.  Help me to experience Your peace that transcends human understanding and find my refuge in You. Amen

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.