A
day can present us with so many opportunities. Each day is new. Each day is a
clean slate. But if you are like me, I don't always live as if it is.
Once
I made the decision to write about peace, I found it very challenging
personally to find peace. Maybe a better way of putting it would be to say
circumstances have become more challenging as I explore writing about this
topic.
I
wonder if God is making a point!
There
have been times in my life when everything seemed to be going along
seamlessly and effortlessly. During those times, I find it so easy to be in a
state of peace. However, when times get tough and the storms of life rage on,
there is where I find it harder to find peace. Ironically, that is where the
backdrop of chaos brings illumination to the peace we find.
Like
a spotlight on a painting, my storms can help point me to peace, encourage me
to seek it, and be the backdrop to spotlight my peace when it comes.
From
the time I focused on writing about Peace Among the Chaos, I have had a great
deal of chaos. I believe this is part of the preparation needed for me to be
able to write about it. Did I think that would be the case? Maybe. More than
likely, I assumed I would be writing from the lessons I learned from my past
experiences. HA, Silly me. I guess I would need new material and fresh insight.
But
God, in His infinite wisdom, saw that I needed much more training in this area.
So out of a fresh batch of insight, I come to you with my latest material.
I
have been processing health issues with several family members while dealing
with my own minor health annoyances. I had previously mentioned the renovation
project at the house and all that came with that. My mom had a sizable project
at her home that I worked on, which took longer than I expected. It is always
a blessing to do things for others, though. I was blessed to do it for her.
What started out as a cleaning project turned into a renovation project. What
looked like a weekend effort turned into a month or more of chaos in her home.
Ugh? Did that bless her? I doubt it.
On
the heels of recovering from major surgery, she had me in and out of her house
with all manner of noises, smells, machinery, and other people. As of
Wednesday, we were able to move all the furniture in and set the room back in
order. Hopefully, the chaos is now gone, and peace has returned as we were able
to restore order to her home.
Amidst
this ongoing project, I had some other incidents. Monday proved to be a bit of
a challenge. I was to take Marc, my husband, to a procedure. My sister would
need to take my mom to her doctor's appointment at the same time. However, it
was in my town where neither of them was familiar. I usually take my mom to all
doctor's appointments in my hometown.
This
all worked out great. I was waiting in the waiting area. I was getting a bit
cold, so I decided to wait the remaining time in the car. I got in the car to
crank it, but the car did not respond! This is the first time since I had this
car it wouldn't crank. I called my daughter Sara Kate, who happens to be in
town, to come to pick me up and take me home to get another car.
I
went into the office to inform them that I would have my daughter take me home
to get my husband's truck since my daughter also had an appointment that morning. The lady told me I could not leave the premises. I was dumbfounded at
this point. My brain was trying to process this. I went outside where the car
was parked and tried raising the hood. Had a hard time finding the very
well-hidden lever for the hood. A man in the parking lot suggested I call AAA
and ask me for my owner's manual to find the hood lever. We together found it.
The car was parked in a spot where these LOVELY rose bushes pushed in towards
the front of the car. I decided it would be prudent to put the car in neutral
to roll back out of the roses, but the car gear shift will not work WITHOUT THE
BATTERY. It is all electrically operational.
At
the same time, I received a call from my sister that Google had taken her to the
wrong location across town. Knowing they would be very late for the appointment,
we both tried to call the doctor's office with no luck. So, at this point, I am
trying to help her navigate to the office while calls are coming in from my
daughter, AAA, the towing company, and the doctor's office where Marc is
receiving care. They tell me he is ready to go.
At
this point, Sara Kate rides in on her white horse to save the day. She came in
with her peaceful face and demeanor. I got in her car, where I was able to cool
off from the heat of that day and feel my blood pressure head toward a much
more acceptable place. I turn to look at the front door of the building to see
Marc walking toward us. He heads straight for my car with its hood up. The
nurse is nodding to me to get him in the car. I am trying to encourage him to
get in, and he goes into full-blown “husband mechanic mode” while almost face
planting into the rose bushes. Yikes!
We
finally convinced him he needed to get in the car and go home. My sweet
daughter took him, and I stayed with the car until help from the towing company
came.
I
wished that had been it, but NO! The tow truck came, and the guy did his
diagnostics. He told me the boost would be sufficient if I drove the car around
long enough to recharge the battery. On my way home, I called Marc for advice,
and he suggested I take it by the car place where we service this vehicle.
Almost 2 hours later, I was told the battery was fine, and the car was ready to
go. I paid for their services and went to get in my car to head home. Guess
what happened! Nothing! It would not crank. So already being at the service
place, I figured this would be convenient. NOPE!!! I go back to the desk and tell
them the car will not crank to be met with a guy who says he can't help me, and the guy who helped me was gone to lunch! I was thankful at that moment
for sunglasses because this was the point my temper flared, and my top blew.
When I get angry, I cry. Tears began to flow. I had to walk away. I didn't know
where I was going to go, just that it needed to be anywhere but there.
Finally,
I got my composure and walked back in. I went directly to the employee lounge, and unfortunately, I am ashamed to say I interrupted the guy's lunch to ask him
for help. The two of us came out, and "I can't help you guy" had a
charger in his hand to jump-start my car. I was so out of sorts at this point I could not even make eye contact with the guy.
They
ran a diagnostic on the battery again and said it was a good battery. They
jumped it off, and I refused to remain there any longer for them to do anything
else. I headed home. By this time, Marc was back to himself, and we decided to
take the car to our local Firestone. They ran diagnostics on the battery and
immediately determined there was a bad cell on the battery. We replaced the
battery and have had no more problems since then. Simple as that.
So,
what does this have to do with Peace? Everything. Did I find peace in the
middle of this day? NOPE! Why? Because the circumstances screamed loudly, and I
listened. Simple as that.
Amidst
this cloud of noise, I didn't even look for peace. My circumstances became my
focus. Did I feel condemned? No! I just recognized my reality and moved on from
there. My circumstances that day were LOUD; if circumstances had intent,
they were a bit cruel. But the truth is I could have found peace if I had taken
the time to seek it because peace is found outside of my circumstances. I know
this.
The
day went on to night, and the morning began after that. Just as the word of the
Lord says, "His mercies are new every morning," I am able to begin
again fresh the next day or even the next moment after I have blown it. I
didn't behave as I wished I had, but it only stands to show me that I am not
perfect. But I do serve and seek after a perfect One. I have peace with Him no
matter what. My peace is beyond my circumstances and stands strong above the
shouts of this life. I have peace with God because of what Jesus did on my
behalf. This peace is always there, but in times of chaos and storms, those circumstances can drown out my internal peace if I allow it. I simply set my
eyes on this peace with God, and peace can wash over me and my chaos. It may not
wash away the chaos, but it can settle that internal storm that rages inside me in the middle of it.
In
times like this, I need to set my thoughts on the eternality of my peace, the
past tense of my salvation, and the reality that I can have peace with or
without the storms.
Perhaps
the point God is making to me is that peace is not the absence of chaos and
storms; instead, peace is found in a relationship with the one who created
me. Internal peace can wash over each of us that looks beyond ourselves. Inner peace can come regardless of our circumstances. But if you are like me, you may
listen to those loud circumstances and get overwhelmed, blow your top, and even
shed some tears. It is ok. Peace is on the other side of recognizing our right
standing with God our Creator through the finished work of Jesus and enjoyed by
the filling of the Holy Spirit within us for those who have accepted His
wonderful gift.
I
pray you can take a moment to reflect on this truth. Search yourself. Have
you accepted this wondrous gift? If not, would you do that right now? If you
have already accepted, would you ponder the peace you have with God? Whatever
is going on in your life today, whether storm and chaos or calm and order,
think of this wonderful peace. Where do we set our eyes? Looking at our
circumstances, thinking about the past or future, material possessions,
relationships that we do not have, or those we do. Wherever we are looking can
alter our peace. If we look to an invisible God, we will need to do it on purpose.
We will need to seek Him with our whole hearts. Where we find him, we will find
peace.
Isaiah
26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he
trusts in you.
Philippians
4:7 And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
In
Isaiah 9:6, we find the Prince of Peace. Peace is a person!
