Abiding in Peace

Johanna Stamps describes how to create peace in our life by creating a practice of abiding. 

This week, I had two circumstances come up and stir the waters of my life into a storm surge. I could feel the lack of peace rising like a wave from the depth of the ocean floor. My initial thought was, “Here we go again.” 

This feeling is not unlike most of us when we browse through the daily headlines. Some days, it feels like the waters are retreating and formulating a mammoth wave that is going to come and crush us. Maybe it is the unrest between nations, a raging political climate; perhaps it is a pending loss you just don’t feel ready for; or maybe it is a toxic friend or loved one who has trouble with the boundaries you’ve placed.  

Cultivating peace

For years, I have worked on cultivating peace. I have spoken to this Gospel truth that we have peace available to us, but I have approached it as something we needed to create as opposed to something we … well … just have.  

Most of us would probably say we don’t just have peace. Like me, you would probably say you have access to it, or God can give it to you. But what if we don’t need to do any hard work to get peace into our life or get our circumstances perfect so the waters calm to a slight ripple?  

Psalm 23:4 comes to mind:  

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

The Scripture doesn’t say, “Here are the three steps for you to get the peace you’re looking for.”  

Changing my approach

This leads me to wonder: What spiritual activities am I working on right now that don’t need my efforts?  

So, if we don’t need to jump through hoops to get the peace we are searching for, then what?  

As I knelt at church this weekend, I wondered if this shift could actually be put into practice. In my situation, I noticed I was choosing to allow my mind to wander to every possible outcome, my emotions in those outcomes, and what my response would be.  

I don’t have the strength or the foresight to perfectly plan or create my circumstances. This is not my role. My role is also not to talk to everyone about my present circumstances in the hope that I will magically get an answer that will make everything okay.  

Abiding in peace

Then what is our role as the waves crash around us?  

It’s simple: Abide.   

The image that I heard Sonja Corbitt put forth about this recently was just standing and allowing the storm to rage around you. If this is true, then the storms can rage (and they will), and you can stand still with Christ and abide in Him — abide in peace.   

In the days, weeks, and months to come, I think we will have plenty of opportunities to put this approach into action.   

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Copyright 2024 Johanna Stamps
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