Lisa Notes: Are you losing your peace?

Don’t we all just want a few minutes of peace?

No bickering between the kids. No stress with the husband. No shopping list left undone in a perfectly-decorated house.

So if peace is a fruit of the Spirit, why do I often feel I lose mine? And where does mine go when things happen like my computer dying—the very week I was studying peace?

Shalom

The Jews in the Old Testament called it shalom. They used it as a common greeting (Judges 19:20) and still do today. Deeper than our typical “How are you?”, shalom was more a blessing of “May you be prosperous in all things.”

But in the New Testament, peace (eirene) took on even greater depth. Did you know peace is mentioned in every New Testament book except 1 John? Notice the apostle Paul coupled it with grace in his greetings—“Grace and peace to you.” And rightly so.

Through grace, we receive the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) from the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). Christ not only left his peace with us (John 14:27), but he himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

More than a feeling

So when circumstances turn chaotic and gifts are still unbought and hearts are troubled by broken technology, look elsewhere for peace. Your peace was never meant to rest in those things anyway.

Because your peace—peace the world can’t give—is more than a feeling.
It’s a person.

And in the person of Jesus Christ, your deepest peace can’t be disturbed (John 16:33). It’s secure. If you’ve come into relationship with him, even when your outside is stressed, remember you have a wellness deep in your soul you can’t even understand and can’t worry away.

Peace in the presence

God’s peace is above your intellect—don’t try to figure it out (Philippians 4:7). You won’t succeed.

But you can trust that it’s there. That he is there.

Because peace isn’t the absence of trouble.
Peace is the presence of God.

Even when the dog is barking and the car is overheating and the laptop is dying, God’s peace runs deeper still.

Trust him to guard it for you. So you can worry less; worship more.

Think on good things, not on figuring things out.

God’s got you covered.
He’ll keep giving you grace.
And he’ll always be your peace.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2

* * *

What makes you lose your peace?

What helps you find it again?

REVISED FOR THE ARCHIVES
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Do Not Depart

0 Vote up Vote down

Ollie · 643 weeks ago

Doing it my way makes me lose my peace.

brian miller · 643 weeks ago

peace isnt the absence of trouble, its the presence....that was perfect...and true....

and computer problems...oy....lets not go there...smiles.

+1 Vote up Vote down

barbarah 65p · 643 weeks ago

My peace is most easily lost when things don't go as I planned, and often that is due to little things like the computer glitches you mentioned or an interruption, etc. I need to remind myself that my times are in His hands. I can also lose my peace lightning fast if someone is inconsiderate and thoughtless. I need to remind myself that since Jesus told us we're to love our enemies and those who wrong us, that certainly applies to the guy who cut me off in traffic or the woman blocking the grocery aisle right where I need to go.

I need to frequently remind myself that my peace in in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, not in perfect circumstances.

I've been reminded the last couple of days Jerry Bridges' encouragements in The Discipline of Grace to focus not just on avoiding sin but on actively pursuing godly qualities and I feel the need to do that somehow -- reading, studying, meditating on the fruit of the Spirit, etc. I'm not quite sure how I am going to do it yet -- that may a goal for the new year.
My recent post A Perfect Christmas

1 reply · active 643 weeks ago

A clarification -- I didn't mean that the traffic guy or grocery store lady were enemies, but that if I am to love enemies I'm certainly supposed to love everyday annoying people as well. :)
My recent post A Perfect Christmas

Julie · 643 weeks ago

ahh...the Shalom kind of peace...the blanket-like covering that is just there, even while the strife is going on in the moment. WHAT a concept. I am 100% sure it is not humanly possible to do this unless we can have the source of it inside of us...waiting to be grasped...*I love your post today Lisa. and we just need to step up and possess what we already own through the Spirit. it is definitely a gift given by God's mercy. I think of Christ standing on the beach saying He was going to leave, and the tremors and fear that must have run through those tough guys' minds and hearts. NOT peace. And He told them He would send to them THE HELPER. the giver of that Shalom you are reminding us of today. Keep Calm and Carry on is definitely a byproduct of THIS Peace. Hugs to you. Thanks. I HAVE been having trouble with commenting many places...and sometimes give up. But I still love to visit. Happy Thursday lady. xo
My recent post Returning!... and It's the Christmas season!!

Kati Woronka · 643 weeks ago

Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God... how true and how perfectly-stated. How is it, though, that it seems like his presence can run out? Enough troubles adding up make it really really difficult for me to stay in his presence! This is a lesson I'm still - probably always will be - learning
My recent post A Hope-Filled Thanksgiving

kendal · 643 weeks ago

what makes me lose my peace? students who choose meanness. i find it again through prayer and scripture. i would like to be better at keeping quiet while i search for it again. you know, instead of complaining. a lot.
My recent post on cream cheese and chocolate and miracles..

outsidemywindowinsidemyheart 38p · 643 weeks ago

Hmm...what makes me lose my peace? When life gets off MY schedule it happens every time. I find myself trying to "figure out" how everything I had on MY list for the day is going to get done because I'm no longer on MY schedule. When the Holy Spirit nudges me so that I realize what is happening there is a phrase from our mutual friend Ann that brings me right back to HIM and desiring HIS schedule...the one where peace reigns...and it is this...LIFE IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. JUST. SLOW. DOWN. It is in that slowing down that I seek Him, confess and relax. Wonderful post, Lisa...especially at this time of the year when the human race is frantically running to and fro. Love you!

jenni · 643 weeks ago

i haven't had peace of any sort it roughly 14yrs due to chronic pain

Lisa notes 103p · 643 weeks ago

My heart hurts for you, Jenni. :-(

My recent post What’s on your nightstand? Nov ‘12

Simply Beth 12p · 537 weeks ago

So glad you shared a link to this post, Lisa. I wrote about peace today and your words here echo what I hoped I shared in my post. He is our peace. And in this time of waiting, His presence is enough for me . . . it gives me such peach.
Blessings.

1 reply · active 536 weeks ago

Lisa notes 103p · 536 weeks ago

"He is our peace." It's such a simple yet hard concept to grasp, yes? Glad we were on the same wavelength, Beth. May you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas with Him.