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Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1
All the ‘Bible people’ had a dark side. If a background check were given to any of them, it would come up dirty.
Adam was a man who failed to take leadership.
Abraham slept with his wife’s servant girl.
David was a lust-filled, murderous, absentee father.
Samson was arrogant.
Isaiah struggled with his mouth.
All of these men and more had a part of their lives which betrayed the picture of perfection we’d like to elevate them to.
Yet, time and again, God refers to these men as his friends and men after his own heart. They were far from perfect. But God has a tendency to use imperfect people for amazing results.
The natural human tendency when we love someone is to do things that please them. Human love is performance based, Godly love is positionally based.
Human love lives or dies based on what you do. God’s love perseveres because of what he did through Jesus.
In Jesus we have peace with God. That’s positional. Sin in our lives may rob us of the peace OF God, but not peace with God.
Be thankful that peace with God isn’t dependent on your actions but on his action. We fail. We doubt. We procrastinate. But he remains faithful.
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalms 131:2
Have you ever noticed how a baby laughing can charge a whole room with smiles and warmth? Have you seen anything more peaceful than an infant sleeping? And let’s be honest, is there any noise more annoying than an infant crying? Especially when that infant is hungry?
One would think the world was coming to an end! Few things (nothing?) will calm an infant if their mind is set on food.
Psalm 131 is a song the Israelites would sing on the long, sometimes treacherous path to worship in Jerusalem. Verse one is about humility, about not concerning oneself with things not understood and not seen.
Verse two is about contentment. One time, at a college basketball game I observed an infant sleeping in her car seat. The game was close. The crowd was loud. The little girl slept peacefully in the midst of, and unaffected by the noise and chaos. That is contentment.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do that? Rest peacefully among the chaos, fear and noise of our world around us? We can you know. Jesus promises us a peace that passes all understanding. Jesus promises us that even though there will be turmoil, he is the author and sustainer of contentment and peace.
You know Jesus, right? The guy that slept in a boat that was breaking apart because of an angry sea? Let your heart rest in the comfort of knowing his love and protection over your life in spite of the chaos around you.
May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. Psalms 61:7
Have you ever noticed how people slow down when a police officer is behind them? Maybe it’s just me. I don’t drive fast, at most I’m 4-5 MPH over the limit. But when a police car is behind me I tend to drive at order a couple MPH below the limit!
Why is that? Because we are being watched! You may see that at the workplace as well. The old adage “When the cats away the mice will play” has real meaning when the manager/boss steps out or leaves for the day.
In Psalms 61:7, King David continues his prayer to God, asking him to protect David in his daily activities, whether in the palace, on the battlefield or in his personal time.
He acknowledges that God watches over him, “…May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him”, but asks that the watching is covered in love and faithfulness.
God is not some angry cop hoping we step out of line so he can ticket us. He’s not a micro-managing boss that doesn’t trust us and is always worried about the bottom line.
He’s a loving father that has promised to love us unconditionally. He’s a loving father that keeps his word. He’s a loving father that always has our best in mind.
May you feel his love today in whatever you face. May you be reminded of his faithfulness in the past as you look into an uncertain future!
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7
Where do you turn when trouble comes? Who do you call on for help?
When relationships go south, some turned to new relationships, hoping to find relief.
When finances are hard, some borrow money which only increases their debt load and anxiety.
Loss of a loved one can lead to years of grief, depression, and mental health issues.
God has never promised that life will be easy. In fact, He promises us that we will have troubles. He also promises us that he will always be there to work with us through every storm we encounter.
The closer you draw to him, less impact the storms in life will have on you. You can trust in him in whatever storm comes your way!
What storm are you in today? What struggle is keeping you from seeing the good things in life? Lean heavily on God and he will bring you a peace that passes all understanding.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 