In Pursuit of Peace

      I was talking with a friend recently about a particularly hectic day at work…a day that left me feeling constantly rushed and unable to relax or feel peace. She told me she felt like that all the time, with the stresses of family, life, and work. It was then that I told her about an e-mail I received from a co-worker:

Peace... it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. —unknown

     “How do I do that?” she asked. My only answer at the time was to pray, because only God can give that kind of peace. I left with that question still haunting my mind. Her question stayed with me throughout that day and into the next. I began to look into myself, wanting to know how that could truly be accomplished.
       That still, small voice said, “Choose.”

      “Choose?” I asked. “Choose to be at peace?”

      The affirmation came in a wave of warmth through my soul. The virtual nail had been hit on its virtual head. Just like love and forgiveness are not feelings, but choices, so it is with peace. We have to choose to let peace into our hearts. God offers His peace to us as a free gift, but we have to make the choice to accept that gift. God won’t shove it into our hearts and say, “Here…I demand you accept peace.” No. God is a gentleman. He gives us the choice to accept all of His gifts…including peace.

      The last part of Psalm 34:14 says, “...seek peace and pursue it.” I don’t know about you, but to me that doesn’t sound like a very passive command. It requires action on our part. “Seek” and “pursue” are quite active words. God doesn’t say “sit there and wait” for Me to give you peace. He says to seek it and pursue it! I went to Dictionary.com and looked up the word “seek.” There were several definitions: 1) to go in search or quest of 2) to try to find by searching or discovering 3) to try to obtain 4) to ask for; request. The definitions for “pursue” really caught my attention: 1) to follow in order to overtake, capture 2) to follow close upon; go with; attend 3) to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish 4) to proceed in accordance with 5) to practice. Let’s read some of those definitions, placing peace in them:

1. Go in search or quest of peace.
2. Try to find peace.
3. Ask for peace.
4. Follow in order to overtake peace.
5. Proceed in accordance with peace.
6. Practice peace.

     I remember several years ago I taught a Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit. When we studied peace, the book we were reading suggested practicing peace in our homes…responding in peace to our family to keep the peace. So, why can’t we apply the same principle to our own hearts and minds? I’ve been trying that the last couple of days at work and, though it’s a stressful job at a stressful time of year, I can choose to keep God’s peace in my heart. I can choose to hear His still, small, calming voice in the midst of the turmoil around me. Does it come easy? Of course not. Nothing worth our time ever comes easy. But the change in me as I become willing to accept His peace is amazing!

      So what will you do? What do you choose? Do you choose to continue to sit back and wait, expecting peace to come to you? Or will you pursue that peace? Overtake that peace? Practice that peace? God gives us the ability to bring peace to the lives of others through Him...let’s start by bringing His peace into our own lives first. Peace, my friend!