Laurel A. Ness: When Peace Seems Out of Reach

"Peace" is such a beautiful, tranquil word. It causes me to remember quiet summer afternoons in my childhood, lying on the soft, fragrant green grass and watching fluffy white clouds lazily amble across an ocean-blue sky. Even in my grown-up summers, there is still nothing like feeling the gentlest of warm breezes soothing my skin and moving through my hair to bring a sense of peace. Sometimes I literally stop whatever I'm doing and just bask in the moment and thank the Lord for such a lovely blessing.

There are times in our lives, though, which are not so ideal. We aren't children anymore, with endless summer days of freedom. We aren't so innocent, so untouched by life's circumstances, so unaffected by the events of the world. Now we are the ones who are trying to allow today's children to BE children, shielded as much as appropriately possible from the hurts and hardships, just like older generations did for us.

Can there possibly be peace in our hearts when we go through gut-wrenching trials in this life? The world only seems to be spinning more and more out of control as we, humankind as a whole, focus less and less on God and live more self-centered lives. Then there are the very personal struggles, which, to us as individuals, have nothing to do with the rest of the world. When our loved one is so ill, or our child is in serious rebellion, or we don't know how we will make ends meet, or someone has betrayed us . . . the rest of the world's problems fade into oblivion as we experience our own very personal pain.

Is there any peace to be had?

Oh, yes, my friend, there is!

Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 62:3

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

So much of it starts in our own minds . . . in our own acts of obedience . . . in our own choice of attitudes. Peace comes more naturally when we prepare ourselves to choose it.

Over the years, I have faced--as everyone does--immensely challenging circumstances; some scary, some heartbreaking, some unfair, some completely out of my control. The fear or the ache around my heart (or both!) has always been so very present during those times.

But the peace has been there, too!

No, I haven't chosen to walk in peace every moment. I have allowed fear to creep in and begin to take root. I have been truly afraid/annoyed/heartbroken/angry/broken. But God's Spirit is at work in me! I have His Word in my mind and heart, and continue to drink it in. Peace. I have past experiences--awful ones that God has redeemed--to remember and cherish. Peace. I make an effort, when I remember, to choose joy in the midst of pain and to wholeheartedly trust God to do what He knows is best. Peace. I have family and friends who pray faithfully and take time to encourage and support me. Peace.

I have the Truth on my side. Sweet peace!

Sometimes peace is a feeling that all is perfect in a single moment, like on a quiet, cloud-watching summer afternoon. We should enjoy and savor those times! But real peace comes when it's the hardest to choose it. That's when we need it most. But we need to prepare for it before we need it! Filling our minds with God's Word, praying earnestly for peace, and choosing to live peacefully day by day, minute by minute, will prepare us for experiencing peace in the hardest of times!