there can be peace

By Mariah Strong (WITHIN Devotional Contributor) 
 
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” - Isaiah 26:3
Looking around the world right now, there are many unknowns. Will schools and universities even be able to return to face-to-face instruction? Will children with special needs be able to adequately access education through a hybrid model? Will we be able to fellowship as before? Will a cure be found? Is prevention still possible? So many unknowns. 
In a world where we are facing challenges that couldn’t have been predicted, we are navigating through this chaos and commotion while attempting to not to let fear, doubt, anxiety, and depression invade our lives. It is important to identify the losses and disappointments we have experienced through failed plans and missed events. Yet, we still have the opportunity to access something that can ground us and keep up steady in the midst of any storm.
Scripture tells us that we will face trouble and difficult times in this world, but God has provided us with something the world is unable to define or provide - PEACE. He has given us access to peace - the ability to completely rely on and trust that God is in control, no matter what the situation looks like. There are three areas that we can begin to focus on when it is related to peace. 
Peace with and from God: 
This peace surpasses what our temporal and logical mind desires to understand. This peace is knowing that beyond this life we have an eternal promise. 
This peace gives us an opportunity to fully rely on and trust in the sovereignty of our Heavenly Father to know what is best for us and to provide at the right time. 
Learning to trust God can be challenging, yet it is possible. God fortifies our trust in Him proving himself to be faithful time and time again. Without receiving peace from God, we wouldn’t be able to pursue the next two areas. 
Peace with Man:
As believers, we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation is restoring relationships or making one person's view or believe work alongside another. We are called to lead others into a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father, allowing them too access to peace. 
We should also pursue walking in peace with our fellow man. Because if there is nothing else we can agree on, I would hope as believers we can agree upon the good news of the Gospel. 
Peace with Self: 
It is important for us to have an honest sense of our well-being and to be able to identify and communicate when we need help. Having peace within allows us to have an unshakeable trust and knowledge that God is in control. This in turn allows us to find sweet rest in the midst of the storm. 
New age would present peace to you as a state of “mindfulness”. However, the Father of Ages has instructed us that if we meditate on His word, keep our minds focused on Him as we learn to trust, he will keep us in perfect peace. 
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:
Proverbs 16:7
John 14:27
John 16:33
Philippians 4:6-7
Leviticus 26:6
Numbers 6:26
Psalms 37:11
Psalm 85:10
Proverbs 119:165
Proverbs 3:2
Hebrews 12:14


Questions to Reflect on:
1.What are possible hindrances to trusting God in my life?2.How has God proven Himself to be faithful in difficult situations in the past?

3.How is God inviting me to trust Him so that I may rest in the peace made available to me in this present situation? 

4.How can I pursue living in peace with everyone?

5.How can I choose peace even in challenging situations?