Peace? Amidst This Craziness!?

What comes to mind when you think about the word "peace"?

Lying on a private beach, listening to the ocean waves lapping against the shore?

Cuddling up with a good book next to a cozy fire in a quiet house? 

Hiking through the woods with only the sights and sounds of God's Creation surrounding you?

Strolling with your husband/wife through freshly falling snow while the rest of the world sleeps?

Maybe it has to do with the season of life I am in, but any image of "peace" I can conjure up has to do with quietness... as in no little kids running around, making noise, clamoring for my attention.

"Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart."  -Catherine Marshall

That's a nice quote, Catherine Marshall, but do you have young kids at home? If so, it must have been a long time ago!

This is probably a good time to confess that I do struggle with anxiety. What triggers it? Lots of chaos. Lack of order. Messes everywhere. Lots to do and not enough time to do it. Lots of kids making lots of noise. You know, the events that make up the majority of my life right now.

I read this verse in my quiet time this morning, and it caught my attention, for obvious reasons. 

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

John 14:27 -NASB

These were Jesus' words to his disciples not long before His Crucifixion.

"My peace I give to you," says the Prince of Peace Himself. Wow. How do I get some of that?

I used Vines Expository Dictionary to further understand the kind of peace Jesus is referring to. Is he referring to that peaceful feeling you get on a quiet beach?

Partly. He is referring to "a sense of rest and contentment." 

But not the "sense of rest and contentment" that comes 

   from being alone or

        from being on top of things or

           from having calm children. 

It's "the sense of rest and contentment that comes from the harmonized relationship between God and man, accomplished through the gospel."

When our hearts find a restored relationship with

     our Maker, 

          the Lover of our souls, 

               the One who gave His only Son to bridge the gap that separates      

                    our sinful hearts from His Holy Majesty,

then we find peace. A security. A knowing that all will be well - will be perfect in fact - when we arrive in our true home, where we will spend Eternity with our Father. Our Savior. 

A knowing that all is well in the meantime, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. 

     We know that God is good. (Psalm 136:1)

          We know that God is Sovereign. (Psalm 103:19)

               We know that God is for us. (Romans 8:31)

These truths provide a shelter for us in the midst of any storm. In the midst of any amount of chaos.

"I do not give to you as the world gives to you," Jesus said.

What does the world give us? Trouble. Fear. Anxiety. Lies.

Lies that we have to be in control in order to experience peace. Well, that doesn't seem to be a very good deal. We can't control the weather. We can't control what the people around us do (try as we might). We can't control what happens to the people we love. We can't control which diseases take over our body. We can't control what disasters may occur around us. If we believe this lie, we will never be at peace!

God is the Creator of the Universe, 

     the Sustainer of all living things, 

          the King of Kings, 

               the Sovereign Lord, 

                    the Ultimate Victor over sin,

                         over death, and 

                              over the Enemy.

And I have an intimate relationship with Him. They say "it pays to know people in high places." Well, I know the One in the Highest Place. He promises never to leave me or forsake me, a promise no one besides God can keep. 

This gives me a peace - a calm - a sense of rest and contentment in my heart that cannot be shaken by messes or noisy kids. Nor by diseases nor disasters. Not even by a breach in national security. It's a peace that transcends all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Do you have peace in your heart today? It's available to you, too.

“Jillian, Jillian. You are distracted by many things, but only one thing is needed.”

"Ugh. The kids haven’t done their morning chores yet. I still need to finish the dishes from last night and figure out what we’re having for breakfast. How am I going to squeeze my shower in before I go teach preschool? At least I got my workout in this morning, but I really need a shower. Maybe after I get the big kids off to school?..."

Maybe your mornings aren’t exactly like mine, but do you ever find yourself “pulled away” from spending time basking in the LORD’s presence –enjoying relationship with Him- by more “urgent” matters?

Our vacation is quickly coming to an end and I find myself frantically trying to squeeze in some projects I want to accomplish before the students return and things get really busy again.

Of course, things don't usually work out smoothly, so the project I have worked on for two days is STILL not finished. I am irritable. Distracted. Frustrated. Overwhelmed.

Tonight, I hear my Father speaking to me through this passage.
Luke 10:38-42

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

"Jillian," my Father gently calls out to me. I don't hear Him because I am distracted, still running around.

"Jillian," He lovingly calls to me again, with obvious compassion in His voice. 

"Huh?" I finally glance in His direction. Now that He somewhat has my attention He continues, "You are worried and upset about many things."

I consider that for a moment... Yes, well, He does have a point.

"Okay, so I am."

"But..." He's about to present a contrast. "But what?" I wonder. "Take a look around, Jesus. Do you see the mess all around me? Do you see how many things are left on my to-do list? Do you see what time it is already?"

"But," He continues, "only ONE thing is needed."

Needed. Essential. Absolutely necessary.

I look around me. "Oh no, there is way more than ONE thing that needs to be done around here!"

"Mary has chosen what is better..."

"No He didn't. He's comparing me to my lazy sister!? And exalting her idleness??"

"And..." He finishes, "It will NOT be taken from her."

"So I can't look down on her or try to make her feel guilty for not being as productive as I am? But I'm serving, LORD. Isn't that what You told me to do? Maybe if she helped out a little more, I'd have some time to just sit at the feet of Jesus' myself."

“That is your choice, Jillian. Mary has chosen to sit with me and build relationship with me. You are choosing to run around, striving to accomplish apart from me. It’s good that you want to serve others and keep things orderly, but it is not vital.

“Only ONE thing is absolutely necessary... remaining in me. Because apart from ME, you can do no good thing. All your striving is in vain. Choose Me, daughter. I delight in you. I am dying to spend time with you. I have so much to reveal to you and I want to hear all about what's going on in your heart. Let's take on the world together. I'll give you insight and guide you, one step at a time. We can laugh together along the journey. I will infuse your actions with power and you can marvel at My Glory and encourage others to do the same. 

My will is definitely NOT for you to be anxious and upset. I have given my life so that you may enjoy an abundant life. A life overflowing with joy and love. Peace and security. Hope and contentment. I can give you all this. Just choose me above all else, my sweet daughter. Stop wasting your time and energy. Apart from Me, you can do no good thing. I promise, I will never let you down.”

"Jesus, please help me to make a better choice tomorrow. To choose what is best instead of letting myself be pulled away by the less important distractions in life. Thanks for persevering in Your love for me. I know I don't deserve it, but I certainly am grateful."