Great Peace

There are few things in this word as peaceful and serene as a lake in the early dawn hours, when the silence is unbroken and the water is completely still. Pause for a moment and picture it in your mind … complete stillness in a world at rest. Can you imagine it? Or is the chaos in your world too “loud” to envision this level of serenity?

As a mom of seven children, oftentimes “peace” seems like a misnomer. My day frequently feels like I jump from one episode of conflict resolution to the next. The idea of living a life of order and unity sometimes feel like an impossible dream.

Yet God’s Word says, Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (Psalm 119:165). The English Standard Version states the last part of the verse as, “and nothing shall cause them to stumble.”

In other words, when we truly love the Word of God, nothing can take away our peace. Let that sink in for a moment.

As I pondered that verse, I literally found myself asking, “Has there ever been a moment when I remained so focused on God’s Word that the chaos around me didn’t even cause my steps to falter in the slightest?”

I have no doubt there have been some moments like that over the years, but I also know that far more often than not the circumstances around me radically alter my mood, my thoughts, and my reactions. For example, if I come out of my morning quiet time refreshed and in close communion with God only to find that my youngest children have awoken early and dumped an entire box of cereal on the kitchen floor, frequently my peace is shattered and I quickly find myself on the verge of impatience and anger. At other times, my own internal peace is destroyed by conflict between my children and I find myself frustrated by their misbehavior (and reacting accordingly). There are also moments when my day can be “ruined” by rude drives, unkind people at the grocery store, or the seemingly thoughtless actions of others around me.

So what is the solution? The Bible tells us to “love Thy law” in order to avoid stumbling on account of others. God’s Word is not just a book to live by; it is a book to live on. As the old hymn says, “I will plant my feet on its firm foundation for the Bible stands.”

On multiple occasions in Scripture, we are encouraged to meditate on God’s Word.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night… Joshua 1:8

Psalms 1 says, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

In Psalms 119, a chapter that greatly extols the value of God’s Word, the psalmist says, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (verse 11). The author understood that memorizing God’s Word would have the impact of lessening sin in his life.

The same can be true for me and you! If you do not know where to start, I highly recommend beginning with Psalm 119. If you mark in your Bible, underline every reference to God’s Word … there are many as different names are used (thy precepts, thy judgements, thy commandments, etc)! Next, copy out some of the verses and try meditating on them throughout the day. Over time, work on memorizing those verses.

As we hide God’s Word in our heart and seek to live according to the truth found therein, the circumstances around us will have less of an impact. Ultimately, I want my heart to be so in tune with God and His Word that the peace He has given me is not disrupted by the environment around me.

When have you experienced God’s peace despite circumstances? How has God’s Word encouraged you to remain steadfast in the midst of difficulty?

Growing in Grace,

Stephani