How To Find Peace
I received an email recently from someone I barely know. They have a role to play in a project I'm working on and their input is essential. Any knowledge and instruction from this person is precious to me because it means I can improve and succeed in the task at hand.
This email, however, made me want to quit the project altogether and find quieter pastures. In just a couple of paragraphs, I was made to feel inept, inadequate and about two inches tall. After just one mistake and one oversight I was being written to (not even spoken to) in a tone I wouldn't use with anyone.
I won't tell you that I cried because I didn't, but I was close. Anytime someone attacks you, it becomes personal.
But the flesh wanted to react. I instantly wanted to write back and make this person feel even smaller than I did. The old nature wanted to tell everyone and get them behind me in a mob and send out a posse. My flesh wanted satisfaction and it wanted it now.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
So I didn't write the email, didn't tattle and didn't cry. I prayed. I had my husband pray. I changed the subject when others wanted to talk about it. Giving in to the flesh wasn't going to bring me the peace I was so desperately needing.
I've said it many times before, but we shouldn't be surprised when the lost act lost. So it shouldn't be an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence when we act like we're saved. Even when that means doing nothing at all.
Peace doesn't come when you've tried to right your own situation. Peace doesn't come when you have all the "right feelings." And peace definitely doesn't come when you've done whatever it takes to soothe the old nature.
Peace comes from the Lord Himself.
This email, however, made me want to quit the project altogether and find quieter pastures. In just a couple of paragraphs, I was made to feel inept, inadequate and about two inches tall. After just one mistake and one oversight I was being written to (not even spoken to) in a tone I wouldn't use with anyone.
I won't tell you that I cried because I didn't, but I was close. Anytime someone attacks you, it becomes personal.
But the flesh wanted to react. I instantly wanted to write back and make this person feel even smaller than I did. The old nature wanted to tell everyone and get them behind me in a mob and send out a posse. My flesh wanted satisfaction and it wanted it now.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
So I didn't write the email, didn't tattle and didn't cry. I prayed. I had my husband pray. I changed the subject when others wanted to talk about it. Giving in to the flesh wasn't going to bring me the peace I was so desperately needing.
I've said it many times before, but we shouldn't be surprised when the lost act lost. So it shouldn't be an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence when we act like we're saved. Even when that means doing nothing at all.
Peace doesn't come when you've tried to right your own situation. Peace doesn't come when you have all the "right feelings." And peace definitely doesn't come when you've done whatever it takes to soothe the old nature.
Peace comes from the Lord Himself.
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