(Written in August 2020)
Peace.
It seems such an elusive concept in today’s world. What with explosions, hurricanes, flooding, drought, earthquakes and locust; blatant racism and violent demonstrations; civil wars; drowning migrants, unprecedented political unrest; poisonings; military coups; world hunger… And I haven’t even mentioned COVID, the rise of it’s second wave and the economic crisis it has sent the world into.
And you say … peace?
When I woke up this morning, I began to pray for the world and all its troubles, and it didn’t take long for me to get all worked up. I opened my eyes then, and I found myself staring out the bedroom window. The sun wasn’t quite yet up, and the sky looked like cotton candy with its wisps of blue and pink cloud intertwining across the horizon. The air outside was perfectly still, not even a leaf was rustling. There was no noise of cars, no footsteps, no workers working… Peace.
But how can it be so… peaceful? I mean, the wars/hurricanes/explosions/poisonings/etc. hadn’t just disappeared overnight! COVID-19 still rampaged the world!
And I abandoned that peaceful feeling as I crawled out of bed.
Fast-forward a few hours. My husband and I were out for our daily stroll, and we had decided to walk the banks of the local canal. As is our habit, when we turned around to begin our return trek, we began interceding for the world and all of its problems. Just at the peak of our prayer, when it seemed there was no solution, my eyes drifted out over the abandoned shipping canal, now used exclusively for recreation. The greenish water was calm and clear. The trees lining both sides of the water were lush and still. A couple fished on a rustic dock. A lone duck paddled across the water, leaving behind a tiny wake… Peace.
But how can it be so… peaceful? I mean…
Wait. Hadn’t I already used those words once today? Why was God bringing these peaceful scenes to my attention, not once, but twice in the same day? And both times, just as I was getting all worked up about the troubles in the world?
It didn’t take me long to realize that this was definitely a God-moment, and as I watched that duck make its way across the water, I slowly began to understand: God wanted me to know that I can have peace in my heart despite the problems of the world. He was helping me to understand that peace can co-exist with chaos. Didn’t He tell us, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid…” (John 14:27 NLT)? It doesn’t matter how much chaos the world gives. Even amidst the worst trouble, Jesus left us a gift – a gift of peace of mind and heart.
Those weren’t the only two times when I became upset about the condition of the world that day. The next times, however, God brought to my mind the cotton-candy clouds and the little wake left by the lone duck, and I understood. I am to receive the gift of peace that Jesus has for each of us. I am not to be troubled or afraid. I am to pray for the world, and I am to intercede for those in need; but I am not to carry that burden. I am simply to hand it over to the One who is big enough to carry it.
What has robbed you of your peace today? Don’t carry that pain. Instead, surrender it to the One who is big enough to carry it for you. Pray. Intercede. But receive His peace. Yes. I did mean “right now”!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two adult boys, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, The Illustrator, a four-times-a-week internet newsletter, and the Sermon Illustrator website, all with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
But how can it be so… peaceful? I mean…
Wait. Hadn’t I already used those words once today? Why had God bringing these peaceful scenes to my attention, not once, but twice in the same day? And both times, just as I was getting all worked up about the troubles in the world?
It didn’t take me long to realize that this was definitely a God-moment, and as I watched that duck make its way across the water, I slowly began to understand: God wanted me to know that I can have peace in my heart despite the problems of the world. He was helping me to understand that peace can co-exist with chaos. Didn’t He tell us, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid…” (John 14:27 NLT)? It doesn’t matter how much chaos the world gives. Even amidst the worst trouble, Jesus left us a gift – a gift of peace of mind and heart.
Those weren’t the only two times when I became upset about the condition of the world that day. The next times, however, God brought to my mind the cotton-candy clouds and the little wake left by the lone duck, and I understood. I am to receive the gift of peace that Jesus has for each of us. I am not to be troubled or afraid. I am to pray for the world, and I am to intercede for those in need; but I am not to carry that burden. I am simply to hand it over to the One who is big enough to carry it.
What has robbed you of your peace today? Don’t carry that pain. Instead, surrender it to the One who is big enough to carry it for you. Pray. Intercede. But receive His peace. Yes. I did mean “right now”!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two adult boys, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, The Illustrator, a four-times-a-week internet newsletter, and the Sermon Illustrator website, all with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
