My Word for 2023: Peace

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NKJV)

I broke the silence in the car. “I see why God gave me the word peace this year.”

Just an hour earlier, the doctor should have scheduled my surgery, but instead, he wanted me to get a second opinion from another neurosurgeon, a deformity doctor. It seems my scoliosis has created havoc in my back. The surgery might make this problem worse, possibly causing the need for a second surgery. This new specialist will make the decision between this simple surgery or a fusion.

I still am processing it all, and while peace reigns in my mind, my heart still can’t feel one hundred percent content with it. This doctor holds my future in his hands, but that’s not true. God holds it all in His mighty hands.

Another delay means continued pain, but I refuse to continue allowing these circumstances to rule my life. I will move forward with ministry and life as much as I physically can, and when the time comes to finally have surgery, I will deal with it then.

I read the above verse today. Our Lord is indeed the Lord of peace. We can look through the gospels and see peace radiating from Jesus. Peace in a storm. Peace when food was insufficient. Peace when He washed the feet of His betrayer, Judas.

Next, we read that He gives us His peace always. No time span on earth is void of His peace. Even when I learned my plans for healing and a painless life were delayed. I didn’t panic, but His peace was upon me even though I had things to process.

Next, our verse says we receive His peace in every way. Every circumstance. Every trial. Every disappointment, because a disappointment is God’s appointment.

Finally, Paul says the Lord is with us. His presence never leaves us. He was with me yesterday in that exam room. He was with me as I wept trying to make sense of it all at home. He will be with me in the Operating Room.

Friend, He is with you too, pouring out His peace all the time and in every circumstance. He is there in your storm, in your discouragement, in your flawed plans, and whatever you find yourself dealing with today. Jesus is there bringing you His peace, a peace beyond understanding.

Lord of peace, help me recognize Your presence at this moment. Help me feel Your peace. This world wants to shake us up, but You have equipped us to stand in peace. In Jesus’s name, amen.

DIG DEEPER

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful (Colossians 3:15 NKJV)

HIKING THE TRAIL

Most of the time, we hold onto panic and fear, forbidding peace to reign. What is one area in your life where you can allow God’s peace to flow?

RELATED RESOURCE

Our emotions seek to drain us of peace. Peace is the opposite of worry, stress, and discouragement. We can conquer emotional bondage with something as simple as God’s Word. Learn more in this Selah Award Nominated devotional. Click here.

Originally posted on January 9, 2023 @ 1:00 am