Peace in Troubled Times.  By Christina Cannon.

John 14:27-

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

God’s peace is found not in the circumstances but in His presence. Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus in the midst of it.

Peace is not related to the circumstance but to our relationship with our Lord!

Here’s a statement I heard recently from a young lady at a conference I attended:

“Intimacy Leads to our Destiny!”

So much truth in that statement. The depth of intimacy with our Father will determine the level of peace we maintain.

We all struggle. What we focus on determines our peace. The battle to maintain peace comes from keeping our eyes focused on the problem, not on the problem solver. If we want to enjoy the peace that surpasses all understanding, we must guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!

The Message tells us in Phil 4:6-7-

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Our world is in turmoil, and our lives may match that, but we have God as our hope, strength, and peace to keep our hearts from being troubled.

John 16:33 NASB

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

When worry begins to consume you, remind yourself to refocus. We must learn to trust God and adjust our thoughts to His word. His message to us is good. We have His word to encourage and shape our thoughts toward Him.

Isaiah 26:3-4-

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

Romans 15:13 NASB-

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”