We are never alone. Just as Jesus had His Father with Him, we have our Father with us. It is when we seek and keep our Father with us that we gain peace. We maintain that peace by keeping Him with us through our seeking. The world will not be without trouble and difficulties until He returns again. Thus, if we want hope for peace here on earth we must “Take heart!” And know that Christ has overcome the world. God wants us to have peace. It is a gift that we have complete access to, we only need to trust Him and it will be provided. The fact that Jesus has overcome the world means that everything in this world is conquered. Being with Him in turn means that there is nothing we cannot conquer. We do not have to be victims to anything, because we trust that God is taking care of everything.
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:31-33 NIV
Seeking God must be our top priority. It is with Him that we are able to live out a life that warrants receiving the fruits of the spirit. (See Galatians 5:22-23) It is not easy to live agreeably, sympathetically, or even lovingly with everyone we encounter. However, that is what we are called to do. It is through living these attributes that we are strengthened and are able to turn from evil and seek peace. God wants us to have peace in our lives. We want peaceful lives. It is most likely that none of us want troubles or drama to enter in any capacity. Thus, we must pursue peace with all we have. This starts with living as God has called us to live. We are able to more easily do this when we are with Him. Seeking and pursuing Him is the very foundation of seeking and pursuing peace.
They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:11 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Do you ever feel alone? Write down what this feels like and ask God to be with you the next time you feel this feeling.
- How are you pursuing peace? Write down the ways you are with God throughout your day. These are ways you are pursuing.
A Story of Peace:
There are so many stories, but the biggest one is when my daughter was 16 and she was sucked in by drugs. She ran away and for 2 years I had no idea where she was. I prayed everyday for her to come home. Every knock on the door I was afraid it was the coroner telling me she was gone.
I asked God many, many times why He was doing this. One day it hit me. He needed me closer to Him, and to believe in Him fully. I had a sense of peace after that. I still prayed every day for her, but with more belief that she was ok and that God would bring her back.
I do not want to drag this out with all the details. He did bring her home in a roundabout way. Now 8 years later, she is married and has 2 babies. She has been drug free for 9 years. GOD is good, hope is all we have sometimes, and He will always give us peace when we are close to Him and trust Him fully.
- Brenda
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
