Finding Peace in Times of Distress

 

When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God's peace. Trembling, we grope through the darkness, longing to know that all will be well.

When the angel of Jehovah appeared to Gideon (Judges 6), he was crouching in the dark confines of a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to protect it and himself from the Midianite invaders. This was not a new way to thresh grain, it was cowardice.

 

Listen to how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon.

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? …the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" (Judges 6:12-14)

At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty? Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he'd been discussing politics and religion with God face to face he was rightfully terrified:
"Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." The LORD said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)

When do we first encounter the name Jehovah-shalom? Where does God first reveal His name as The Lord is Peace? In the presence of a man who is desperately afraid… a man who is literally walled in by circumstances… a man who is worried and discouraged and has no peace in his heart.

When Gideon's eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace.

In the days to come, the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. Learning this business of being a "valiant warrior" wasn't going to be easy. But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear."

Beloved, do you ever feel as if you're trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by an enemy who presses in on you and tries to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurt and worry?

How rightly Gideon named that altar, The Lord is Peace. True peace cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God. We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life.We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman no matter how dear they are to us. We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home.

 

I believe the Lord sometimes allows situations that strip away the shallow, surface peace on which we have come to depend. He allows us to be distressed and in turmoil and unable to find the answers we need from our husbands, wives, friends, or counselors. In those times, as with Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom.

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "He Himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.

 

Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. Here is Jesus' promise: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
"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." (John 16:33)

Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone? Before you do, Beloved, run into the shelter of His name. When you find Him, you will find peace because… He is Peace.

 

Written by Kay Arthur, shared thru CROSSWALK © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Changing Our Focus

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Nothing can touch a believer's life unless it comes through the permissive will of God. That means He has complete control, even when it feels like Satan is running rampant through our personal lives. Trapped in Roman confinement, Paul knew that God could rescue him; after all, He had removed Peter's chains. (Acts 12:7) But Paul was not simply waiting around for liberation. Even in his chains, he earnestly continued with his kingdom work because he believed God did everything for a reason.

It is true that the Lord has a purpose for whatever He brings into a person's life. Though we may desperately wish for different circumstances, God allows us to go through a given situation when it will ultimately bring about the most favorable result. If we allow Him to finish the work instead of trying to extricate ourselves, we'll see a positive outcome.

Paul's time in prison proved a benefit for the Gospel, though logically, the spread of the Word should have been severely hindered by the confinement of such a great preacher. In two years, he had been guarded by many of the elite praetorians (Philippians 1:13), and we know what Paul talked to them about Christ during their shifts.

There isn't a single verse in the Bible that says believers are promised an easy life. In fact, the Word warns that the opposite is true (John 16:33). But we, like Paul, can choose to live above our circumstances by realizing that God has a plan to use our experiences for our good and the benefit others.

IN TOUCH MINISTRY by Dr. Charles Stanley © 2001-2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward).

Let My Joy and Peace Be Yours

It's a hectic world ...

we live in faster is what everyone wants.
The results of this can be very handy.
But... speed is not always needed.
Often we need to rest more.

Be still...

let God’s peace be in our hearts.
That is more powerful

than any computer speed we can achieve.

Therefore Jesus daily invites us to come to Him.
To be still and listen to His voice.
He wants to blow the wind of refreshment in our lives.
Every day. Because we need it.

Let’s take time to be with Him.
No matter how much stress, despair or pain there may be.

Jesus is the sun of love, joy and peace.
He wants to shine His light on you and bring refreshment.

His peace is a place
where He can give new strength, new life, new hope.

CHRISTIAN ART for you © 2004 Inspirational christian art posters copyright David and Renate Sorensen. No unauthorized usage of any of these images allowed. (Please include this line to forward).

Fw: A merry heart does good like a medicine

 "A merry heart does good, like a medicine!" (Proverbs 17:22)

 

The human body, which GOD designed, can produce it's own disease fighting chemicals. GOD has created us "fearfully and wonderfully." These bodies that we walk around in are truly amazing! Evolution is just NOT smart enough to equip us with the mind-boggling intelligence that our bodies contain!

 

For example........when you are joyful, your body secretes two types of chemicals that fight cancer and other diseases. When you experience that exhilarating feeling of being truly joyful.......it does GOOD......"like a medicine."

 

One type of chemical released in your body when you are joyful is called "Neuropeptides." These "Neuropeptides" are the same kind of chemical that cancer patients are injected with at the cost of up to $40,000.00 per shot! And GOD created our bodies to produce them NATURALLY ......by having a joyful heart!

 

Another chemical which is secreted into the bloodstream, by having a joyful heart, is known as "Opioids". (You can see the root word for "Opium"....which can be a dangerous drug but produces a calming effect.) Opioids are secreted into the bloodstream and enhance the immune system to help fight the common cold. So, is there a cure for the common cold? YES! A merry heart doeth good....like a medicine!

 

You see, our minds, bodies and spirits are all connected. We are a walking network of amazing super-intelligence! We are NOT "gods"......we are created "in the image of GOD." Let's not forget that there's only ONE true GOD.

 

But... GOD has created us so unique! And when we are joyful, .our minds, bodies and spirits are effected by it! Your mind can sense true joy coming from your spirit, and when your mind "picks-up" joy on the radar screen, it sends out "Opioids" into the bloodstream which connect with "monocytes." The "monocytes" receive messages from the "opioids" which trigger a "Pac- Man" like response and they begin to EAT bacteria and viruses that tear down your immune system.

 

If you are plagued by fear, worry, stress and anger, you are opening the door to sickness. Your body is not secreting what it needs to keep you vibrant. Is it any wonder Jesus tells us to stop worrying? (Matthew 6). Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul tells us to stop worrying? ( Phil. 4). Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all of your needs will be given unto you. (Matt. 6:33)

Take care of your mind, body and spirit. Have a joyful heart. Stop killing yourself. Allow that wise body God gave you to release those wonderful chemicals in order that you may experience optimum health and performance for His glory!

Phobias by Donna L. Watkins, Taken from the free online ezine, "A Healing Moment"

Permission is granted for use of any articles written by Donna L. Watkins if credit includes the author's name and an active link to this website.