Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, Peace to you & grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen Blessed John XXIII
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you Phillipians 4:9
Peace. It’s one of the fruits of the Spirit I long most for, being someone who struggles with anxiety. As I write this, everything in my life seems to be in a state of mild chaos. Change and uncertainty loom around every corner, in my job, in my ministry, and even at home. I feel as if I’m floating and there is no steady ground beneath my feet. Instead, all I find is the shaky ground of my heart. Yet, there is always steady ground.
“Peace isn’t a place we live in… peace is a Person.” -Ann Voskamp
Peace isn’t a place. It’s not a certain moment in time, or a certain set of circumstances, or even the absence of suffering. I fall into that trap a lot, thinking maybe I’ll finally feel peace once we find a house, once he finds a job, once I learn to trust in God more, once..
But peace is always available, here, in any situation. Peace is a Person. No matter what storms are raging around you, what wounds are tearing your heart, or how much change you’re facing, He is Peace. He is and always will be Peace. In this sense, nothing can ever shake this Peace. It makes peace feel less elusive, like this feeling that we can’t ever seem to grasp hold of for very long. Even if we’re not feeling the “feeling” of peace in our hearts at every moment, Peace always exists.
So in those moments when we don’t “feel” peace? “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen.” Keep moving forward using the gifts He has given you, with the truths you know to be certain, “and the God of peace will be with you.” Peace comes as a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Sometimes we can become paralyzed. We can’t always wait for peace to come before we move an inch. Instead, start walking, always open to the Spirit, with the assurance that Peace is with you.
Does it steady your heart to know that Peace is always with you? What are some of the gifts He has given you, and does manifesting these gifts to those around you bring the fruit of peace to your life?
To Jesus through Mary -Emily
Image by Alyssa Marie Francis
