Position of PEACE

Your position of peace affects everything you create; your creative expression, your relationships, your mental and physical health and the life you create for yourself affecting others. Without peace we are less than ourselves; less happy, less focused and less capable.

Listen to the audio: https://youtu.be/nIvzhmsoS_c (or scroll to the end of article for video podcast)

Discovering Peace

In 2005 while my mother was visiting her hairdresser their conversation went something like this.

‘That must have been so traumatic – you know, what happened to you daughter?’

‘Yes, we nearly lost her because of that’ Mum answered.

I moved away from where the worst day of my life unfolded and this woman had been cutting my hair until then. She was imagining how difficult it was to recover from the ordeal.

‘How is she?” she inquired with real concern.

My mother thought for a second and replied, “Actually, she’s so at peace now!” She assured her.

Later mum replayed the conversation to me. Surprised, enlightened and immediately delighted by her observation I remarked, “Actually Mum, that is exactly what I am now – at peace. I still hurt terribly, cry all the time and struggle with all that happened, but I have peace. It’s because of God.”

I knew she’d likely dismiss what I said but I couldn’t help but speak the truth out loud. I was so frigging relived and grateful for what God had done! I had to speak it. Jesus was showing up all over the place delighting me with a multitude of wonderful things. He was the only reason for my position of peace.

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis. He wrote, “God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.”  

God is peace and the source.

We can’t manufacture or strive for peace; it will eventually exhaust us. We need a well of peace to drink from, something easy to access, and with little effort provides untapped true harmony.

God’s peace isn’t fleeting, but remains accessible, straight from the well of life, that is Jesus.

If not for my mother’s observation, I would not have realised the emphasis, that was on my newly realised position of peace. She saw a notable change she described as peaceful. From a crushed and tormented soul, I was emerging as someone full of peace; calm and happier. I didn’t even have this peace before the events that ripped through our life. I was being restored, but not to what I was before, to something different, softer but stronger, calmer, safer, more hopeful, encouraged – thank God!

It was weird, new, strange and different, but I didn’t care – it was better! I felt better!

It is challenging to describe this to anyone who hasn’t experienced the presence of God, his love, joy, peace and healing. Perhaps harder to write. Though, I can testify it happened and is worth pursuing for yourself

To me, and those who have experience the same, PEACE eventually becomes the most obvious advantage of relationship with Jesus.

For those (like myself) who feel unworthy (and are) they appreciate it even more.

Those who have this position of peace morn for those who do not. Why? Because not one of us wants to see another suffer unnecessarily and we see it as totally unnecessary. We know the difference it makes to every part of our existence – it is huge!

PEACE is happiness. The absence of peace is a living hell!

In a world so polluted with injustice, peace can be a hard catch, but honestly – there is an easy way!

PEACE as described in the bible is something, we all should want for ourselves and others.

“The Hebrew word for peace, š?lôm, translated in the Septuagint most often by the Greek word, eir?n?, has a wide semantic range including the notions of totality or completeness, success, fulfillment, wholeness, harmony, security and wellbeing.”

(Credit and Recommended reading: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/peace-bible)

A position of peace fights against the storms.

When my world was in absolute chaos, and at my lowest, Jesus was there waiting for me to reach out. I felt like a rag doll who’d been caught up under a wheel arch, dragged along on the longest long road trip. I wished it would all end and could not see no way out. But there was a way out. I just needed someone to tell me. That is why I’m sharing this with you.

Jesus came to quieten the storm. Like the storm that rocked the boat in Matthew, he breathed into my soul, appearing to me in a dream – be still, I am here, you’re going to be okay. I woke with his hands still firmly on my arms, stunned at someone touching me! Then he was gone!

But he never left. God revealed himself to me many times more and in many ways.

POSITIONED Peace activates change and the power of God.

As humans, we can’t dodge all the trials of life, but can have the peace of God through the trial. Obtaining peace is a by-product of faith that can flip situations around. It activates the move of God. If you let go He takes on your mountain. Your climb becomes easier. 

But peace doesn’t come from wishful thinking. It comes from the Holy Spirit working within us assuring us to relax and trust God. It comes supernaturally. It needs to be supernatural or it would pass all too quickly and we’ll find ourselves trying to manufacture it. There is no way I could have manufactured what was happening in and around me – no way!

Peace cannot be imagined for a long length of time

I tried everything from meditation to self-help, think it until it manifests theories – nothing stuck for long. Nothing felt absolute or true. The gap was never filled until I let Jesus into my heart. The minute I did that, it changed, with someone else doing much of it for me. No more striving. It was time to just walk along with God at my side.

I didn’t just change friends. God took my gut-wrenched, smashed to smithereens heart, supernaturally soothed it into healing. He was my heart salve.

I wish he put on a light show at the time so people could see the miracle I experienced but he didn’t. But I still share, hoping someone will be freed from their misery as I was.

He only asks one thing from us. To trust enough for him to reveal himself individually, drawing us voluntarily closer and closer. Like a Romeo to his Juliet, he wants us to take his invitation to walk daily with him, to see all he has for us. The following becomes natural this way. We are led, not controlled, to understand His ways, not all the religious baloney.

Where is you PEACE my child? Do you not trust me or see who I am? 

This is his voice when I worry and the key words that remind me to let go. He speaks the same to you. Do you trust him enough to see him move or are you missing it? Please don’t!

For all who read this, my prayer for you is that you find that peace, and your way to the only one who can give you that peace – the Prince of PEACE- Jesus. Ask him to reveal himself in a way you cannot deny. He is truly real. When he does (because he will!) lean into that relationship and watch the difference it makes.

When you let go of what you can’t change, you activate change that only God can make.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me

2 Corinthians 12:9

God wants to sprinkle miracles across your path of faith that invite you to stand up and declare – that must have been God! He delights us in this. The worship is not bowing down to a God but singing his praises because he first loved on us. Your shout is a Father’s delight in a happy child.

God loves you. Give your worry to him. He will give you peace and move on your behalf. Lay that thing down today. Give it to him so you can rest and walk, not strive. 

Let peace be the testimony that draws everyone in your life to the one who wants to be the first love of your life. Then you will know true happiness.

May the GOD OF HOPE fill you all with JOY and PEACE as you TRUST IN HIM, so that you may OVERFLOW WITH HOPE by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Romans 15:13

Be blessed

Kayleen

Reading for children: My picture book, When I’m Shining with Peace