Peace

PEACE

Have you ever had a time in your life where you were at unrest?

No matter what you tried we could never find peace, perhaps it's peace about a

move or maybe something in our life has shattered us so badly we dont know if we'll

ever find peace again. We lose sleep, we pace the floor in endless wondering, or

just look around in a lost state not sure of what we're even looking for!

The thing we're searching for is peace, stability, and we just wanna know it won't last

and we'll be ok.

Where do we find this peace? Of course the most obvious answer is to say

"in God" Those of you who are Christians dont walk in utter peace all the time do

you? Be honest with yourself, theres those times when you are at unrest. Why is

this? To understand the answer we have to look deeper, peace isnt just found in

being a believer. Peace is found when we are living the life God has called us to live

That doesn't mean that we're gonna have a flawless hurtless life.

Psalm 34:14 "Turn away from evil and do what is good;seek peace and pursue it!

Lets break this apart, turn away from evil, didn't we do this when we came to the

Lord? In part yes, in entirety lets be honest there are those areas of our life we think

"I know whats best this is my choice lets see what happens"

What is good? Is it not watching that one show on TV, perhaps its not getting in

that un-winable argument with our spouse.

The answer is found in the last part of this scripture, seek peace and pursue it!

You may be thinking ok sounds simple but where do I begin, its not as easily

done as it is said. Examine the areas of our life that are out of focus

with what God wants done. with in my own life were many areas, the want to hold on

to anger. The desire to be with someone and not be alone so you compromise on

what God has said is sin.

You may be thinking ok, sounds good I do this and im not at peace yet, why is it

always me who gets hammered by lifes curve ball? I mean doesnt God want

me happy? The answer is most definately "YES"

So it brings us to the question again why do we have those events that hit us,

Im not talking about small stuff, oh my BF wants to break up, or they canceled

my favorite cartoon. Im talking the things in life that shatter your world, it drops a hole

right under you and may have you asking, "Is there even a God?"

The answer is found here, James1:2-4 Consider it joy, my brothers,whenever you

experience various trials, now I dont know about you but the last thing that comes to

mind when trouble hits is "oh this is so joyful, why are we bring told to consider it

Joy? maybe just maybe we're supposed to be looking at this from a perspective

that goes deeper than ourselves? So how do you look at it? Put it in perspective

Romans 8:18 For i consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy

of being compared to the Glory which shall be revealed in us. Here Paul is

looking through spiritual eyes. Suffering here last but a moment, its temporal, the

Glory and growth it brings is eternal! Back to James, knowing that the testing of your

faith produces patience (or endurance) But patience must do its perfect work, so

that you may be made complete lacking nothing! Ok so we're gettting a better

picture of whats going on here, on one hand God protects His children, not allowing

more than what we can handle come against us, however He does let things

happen in our lives. It holds a purpose! What pupose does suffering hold? What can

suffering do if we allow it to consume us??? Now what can happen If we turn that

suffering to the Lord?

Imagine a man batteling cancer, his brother in Christ who's never had anything bad

happen in his life tells him, itll be ok that Gods good and still with him. How much

weight would that hold up with you? Maybe this even has you asking

where are you God, someone says hes there but you dont see it, hes never been in

your shoes, now another brother who has been through the battle and came out on

top or maybe hes just had a really bad life in the area of everything that can go

wrong does, and he smiles at you and says Gods here, hes with you no matter

what the outcome. Why does this speak more loudly?

Because its said through suffering, the suffering in his life has amplified

the message God gave us from the beginning. I will never leave you or

forsake you!