#130 PEACE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD 9-13-26
Life will give us plenty of reasons to be anxious, afraid, and unsettled. But the child of God has something the world cannot manufacture: peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you” (John 14:27). Notice that He did not promise a life without trouble. He promised His presence in the middle of trouble. Sometimes peace does not come because the storm has stopped; peace comes because we have learned where to stand while the storm is raging.
POSITION. Peace begins with our position in Christ. We need to stop trying to carry what God never asked us to carry and start resting in the One who can carry it for us. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). When we place ourselves in the hands of God, we are in the safest position in the universe. Our circumstances may be uncertain, but our position in Christ can be secure.
PEACE. When our position is right, peace can guard our hearts. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). And then comes the promise: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). God’s peace does not always make sense to the world. It is the quiet confidence that says, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds me.”
PRAISE. One of the greatest expressions of faith is praising God before we see the answer. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, yet “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25). Their circumstances had not changed, but their hearts had. Praise reminds us that God is still God when life is not going our way. When we praise Him in the darkness, we are declaring that He is worthy even before the morning comes.
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Lord, help us find our position in You, rest in Your peace, and respond with praise. When life is uncertain, make us confident. When we are afraid, make us faithful. When we cannot understand what You are doing, help us trust who You are. Teach us to stand firmly in Christ, rest quietly in Your presence, and praise You in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BDD
