It can be hard to have peace when we’re surrounded by chaos, but it’s not impossible. Remember that peace is a fruit of the Spirit that we can cultivate in our lives. When your world seems to be falling apart, or when you’re worried about something, where do your mind go? My mind races constantly trying to find the solution. That kind of stress tends to rob us of sleep, concentration and peace. In times like that, I remind myself that Jesus had the ability to sleep in a boat that was being rocked by a storm. They woke Him up screaming, “Don’t you care that we’re about to die?” Jesus immediately asked, “Where is your faith?” His faith was in His Father and the storm around Him didn’t rob Him of peace.
Paul and Silas were able to experience that same peace in their lives. In Acts 16, they were being harassed by a demoniac day after day. When Paul had enough, he cast the demon out. The person’s owners weren’t happy about it so they stirred up a mob against them with false claims. They were beaten and thrown in the deepest, darkest part of the local prison. Verse 25 says, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening” (NLT). I’m sure the other prisoners were wondering how they could have peace after the beating they had received and while they were bound up in a stockade. It was because they had learned to keep their faith in God and to keep their mind on Him. Their darkest moment brought out praise instead of worry.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” When we can control our thoughts, we can protect our peace. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” The very next verse tells us to fix our minds on what’s true. If you want the peace that passes understanding, you must keep your faith in God no matter how badly the storm around you is raging. You must continue to let those issues shape your prayers as you trust God with the outcome. Peace is possible in any situation when our faith and minds are fixed on Him.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 