Perfect Peace

I love lists. It’s the geek in me. Back in the day, I ordered The Book of Lists from the Scholastic Book Club. I pored over that silly book. From the windiest cities (my hometown was number one) to the intelligence of dog breeds, it had everything. One of my favorites was the list of most beautiful words. I still remember aurora, golden, and hush being on the list. I just did a quick search – most beautiful words – and came up with a new list.

Aurora was still at the top.

This one surprised me – incandescent light bulb. Mmkay.

How about “chatoyant?” I had to look that one up. I’ll agree, if you know how to pronounce it, it’s a lovely word. The ways it could be butchered, however, send a shiver down my spine.

The word that didn’t make the list but would be at the top of mine? Peace.

Peace.

Perfect peace. Peace like a river. Peace like flowing down the Guadalupe in a tube on a sunny summer day. So desired, and yet so elusive. But the Prince of Peace offers it freely.

For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. – Isaiah 66:12-13 (ESV)

How can we experience his peace? Not just the peace of a cancelled debt of sin, but abiding peace in every trial? By abiding in him.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. – Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

When was the last time you were anxious? Or more – like full blown panic?

One memory comes to mind. In the early days of the COVID shutdown, there was talk of suspending air travel and even closing state borders. Who knew how long such restrictions might last? My daughter lived seven states and two time zones away. I wanted her home yesterday.  I got a little anxious. Okay, a lot. Mama bear mode. It wasn’t pretty.

In the grand scheme of things, my fears were unfounded. In no way am I trying to minimize the awfulness of the pandemic – or anything you might be experiencing. During COVID, people lost their loved ones. Dreams died. The uncertainty was real and awful.

No, I don’t want to minimize fear. I want to maximize Jesus. Nothing that happens to us is a surprise to him. And we can find rest in him if we simply abide in his presence.

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. – John 15:10-11 NASB 95

During the pandemic, I took my eyes off Jesus. But with every uncertainty, with every fear, we have another opportunity to trust him. And every time we do, he grows our faith in him just a little more.