Peace is an Act of Defiance

Could you stand to increase the peace in your life today?

I get it. I really do.

There have been long, dry seasons in my life where it seemed I had everything BUT peace.

Financial strain.

Health issues.

Anxiety about my kids.

Uncertainty in my job.

I spent a lot more time than I care to admit focusing on the solutions I wanted. 

"But, God...if You'd just (fill in the blank), everything would be fine."

Eventually, I came to see that peace isn't dependent on circumstances:

• You and I can experience peace amidst uncertainty.

• We can be surrounded both by peace and opposition.

• We can be neck deep in peace and pain at the same time.

• You and I can choose peace by asking God for it.

He may not change our circumstances, but He stands ready to pour out His peace on our lives.

I am He, I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
  

Isaiah 46: 4 (NIVUK)

I'm a bit of a rule follower, I'll admit. But I like to think of asking God for His peace as an act of defiance.

When we ask God for peace, we let our spiritual enemy know we aren't backing down.

We aren't asking for an escape hatch; we're asking for God's peace-giving presence to help us squeeze all He wants us to out of our present circumstances while we await provision, change, and clarity.

You and I can live out our defiance to the darkness around us.

We can dare to hope in God for relief and rescue  by providing us His peace. 

Let's coach on this :

1) Which circumstance in your life would consume your time and energy much less if you could apply His peace to it? 

2) What if God's peace were better for you than any solution you want Him to provide you today?