His Peace

Hi, and thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading was written by Karen Hung, and she titled it His Peace. For several months, I coped with intense workplace politics and intrigues. Worrying is second nature to me, so I was surprised to find myself at peace. Instead of feeling anxious, I was able to respond with a calm mind and heart. I knew that this peace could come only from God. In contrast, there was another period in my life when everything was going well, and yet I felt a deep unrest in my heart.

I knew it was because I was trusting in my own abilities instead of trusting God and His leading. Looking back, I've realized that true peace isn't defined by our circumstances, but by our trust in Him. God's peace comes to us when our minds are steadfast.

In Hebrew, the word for steadfast means to lean upon. As we lean on Him, we'll experience His calming presence. We can trust in God, remembering that He'll humble the proud and wicked and smooth the paths of those who love Him. When I experienced peace in a season of difficulty rather than ease, I discovered that God's peace isn't an absence of conflict, but a profound sense of security, even in distress. It's a peace that surpasses human understanding and guards our hearts and minds in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 26, verses 3 through 7. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high. He lays the lofty city low. He levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.

Feet trample it down, the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. The path of the righteous is level. You, the upright one, make the way of the righteous smooth. Let's pray. Father, help us to trust You and have a steadfast mind, whether times are good or we're facing a time of great stress and uncertainty. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes when we choose to trust You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Hey, thanks for listening today. My name is Alisha Reisinger, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.