Walk in Peace

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During this Advent week of “Peace” I’ve been praying and asking God to, “let me feel His Peace.” 

This led me to question what God’s peace feels like anyways. 

Sometimes I feel peaceful in the mornings when the fire is lit, the house is quiet, and the coffee is hot.

Sometimes I feel peaceful when Amelia is playing and learning.

Sometimes I feel peace when we go on family walks.

But isn’t God’s peace “supposed to transcend all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)

These peaceful moments are just that, they are moments, nothing that seems to last forever. What does it feel like to have this peace that Paul says will guard your heart and mind?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
- Isaiah 55: 8-13
(All of Isaiah 55 has incredible imagery. I recommend reading this over and visualizing the words and make them come to life.)

This has been a year of broken plans and dreams. Like many, it has forced me to slow down, be present, and think. I find myself in a delicate balance of the joy of Christmas season and the sadness of this year. Then, I read Isaiah 55 and found comfort and peace in these words.

Verses 8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God's plans are better. God’s thoughts are better.  Better than we can ever imagine. It's a verse used a lot, but it's true and deserved repeating: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Verses 10-11: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God doesn't leave us in our broken space, in fact, He does quite the opposite. God will make you    flourish and to flourish means to grow or develop in a healthy and vigorous way. 

Verses 12: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.

Often, I think that peace must feel like a calming breeze. To be peaceful is to be soothing, quiet,        gentle. I think there’s merit in that feeling. But then I read this passage, and this just seems to            exude confidence, pride, and strength. It doesn't say, "hopefully you will go out and be happy" or           "maybe the pain will stop." No, it says very definitely, you WILL go out in JOY and you WILL be    LED forth in PEACE. You will walk with confidence of His peace, into God’s plan, and the whole    earth will be excited with you. 




I think peace feels a lot like hope, and hope feels a lot like confidence. 
Confidence in God being who He says He is, and doing what He says He will do. 
He will make you flourish. 
He will give you purpose. 
And He will do this forever. 

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