Fruit of Peace

 

Our journey continues through the fruits of the spirit as we explore peace.  Peace is defined differently among people.  Whether utter silence or complete chaos, people can experience peace.  Personally, this word has been defined by me numerous ways throughout my life.  As a young adult, I wanted peace to calm my anxious thoughts about a new job.  As a new mom, it was definitely the peace of silence.  As a working woman, the peace I sought was the ability to successfully balance all that was delivered to my plate.  Although what peace looked like in each phase of my life may have changed, what anchored all of those definitions was peace for my soul.  When my soul was at peace, I was able to attain the peace I sought.

We may believe that peace can be attained through the outside entities around us – a calming environment, a stress-free vacation, a checklist that is complete.  Those external factors are quickly replaced with direct opposites in our lives.  The calming environment becomes chaos, the stress-free vacation has a hiccup, the checklist gets ‘one more thing added.’  Peace is replaced by a number of conflicting emotions.  When my soul was at peace versus the world around me, I realized that I had met the goal, the peace I was looking for.

So how do we gain a peaceful soul?  There is truly only one way that is achieved – by having peace with God.  Peace from God is freely given to us through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit touches our souls and gives to us the peace that God wants in our lives – the peace that passes all understanding.  As humans, we may resist gaining peace from God.  We may find getting peace from God too simple or too easy.  God provides us the ‘easy’ peace because He wants our souls to be rooted in Him.  This means that in order for us to have a peaceful soul, we need to trust God.  Now there is the trick question, do you trust God?  Stop before answering! 

Do you go to God with all your decisions in your life?  Do you accept His answers?  Do you trust Him with the chaos in your life?  Do you have complete confidence that in the messy parts of your life, God is present and is walking you through the mess to cleanse you?  When we can get to that part of living, regardless of the circumstances, we can trust God is with us, forgiving us, directing us, and loving us.   Then we can experience His incredible peace.  His peace washes over us in happiness and sadness.  His peace finds root in our soul and every part of our body can feel it.  When peace seems to evade you, look to where you are putting your trust.  Have Simple Faith!  Trust in God!  Enjoy a Peaceful Soul!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Peace

Holy Spirit, remind me of God’s peace for my soul.  Help me to trust all that He is doing in my life and let peace wash over me.  Amen!