Looking down the list of fruits....the next one is PEACE.
Peace is described in the dictionary as a freedom from disturbance, quiet, tranquil, and calm. My study Bible describes it as an inner calm that results in our saving relationship with Jesus. Peace, like joy, isn't connected to our circumstances. We can still have peace among a difficult situation in our life.
Peace to me looks this way......being able to know I'm not ever alone....being able to face each day with confidence......being able to know someone bigger than me is in control......being able to let go of things that hold me in chains and know I can still persevere......being able to go about my day with the love of God inside me......being able to know He has me in His hand.......being able to know things are going to be ok, one way or another.
In Philippians (4:6-8) we are told not to be anxious about anything and that our thanks, prayers and requests are to be made known to God. Then, in return His peace will surpass all understanding.
What this is saying is that when we put our energy and whole being into what God has for us, it won't make sense in our little minds.....but it does give us a peace that no one can explain. The peace we can know is that our God has full control of our life and the situations that will come upon us is what He has for us. This is only from God in that the Holy Spirit gives it to us upon our conversion to Jesus, same as the rest of the fruits.
The biggest example of peace I will always hold dear, is my mother-in-law. In 2002 she was diagnosed with cancer....stage 4. She lived 18 months with the disease, and it was not pleasant to watch, but the peace she had flowing out of her sickly body was such a blessing. God used ugly cancer to give a woman peace..... a peace in knowing her salvation was secure. I remember her telling us one day that she felt her time was soon over on this earth. She was excited to be in heaven sooner rather than later, but the fact she could talk so openly about this was a blessing in itself. But my husband didn't take it so well. She told him to NOT be upset......ever. That our God had things to work out in her and we just needed to let Him finish and then take her home. She said all this with a smile. She said all this with a peace that we could not understand. She and God had an understanding. She knew her time was soon ending and was ok with it all, just to see her Savior. She passed away in 2004.....with a smile on her face and a peace in her heart. A peace and understanding she taught all of us around her in those last days of her beautiful life.
God uses people and circumstances all the time to accomplish His will for our lives. When we are open to them, oh my, what a life we can have and have it abundantly! To God be the glory!!!
I had a similar thing happen with my sister. She also had piece. I posted that story on the blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope I am able to face death as well as your mother-in-law and my sister. Both were a blessing for us.
I believe God gives us what we need at the time we need to face a situation. Think about your own life. How many times do you find strength in difficulty when you thought you had none? I feel he does the same in our last days. My mother in law had such peace in her disease, but years before that she was not as strong. I lost two grandparents to cancer as well....and the same was true for them. Such pain they had, but never complained or whined about it or the treatments. My grandfather lost a leg and was wheelchair bound the last year of his life, yet still had that peace.
ReplyDeleteOur God knows what we need before we do and will give accordingly. I don't feel he gives us more of himself, cause the Holy Spirit is with us from conversion, but strength....yes......peace despite circumstances.....yes.....perseverence.......yes. Our God knows us so well. He knows just how to comfort us and keep us close. Amen!