Peace Peace
ISAIAH 57
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
Isaiah 57:18-19 KJV
Isaiah 57 talks about how some of God’s people have turned from Him and are now worshipping other gods. They have mistaken His mercy for tolerance and have not turned back to Him.
When praying about this chapter I began to think about how we have taken God’s mercy and grace for granted. When I really sit and think about that, what we are doing is mortifying. We are underestimating the value of God’s mercy and treating it with contempt. We continue to sin against God despite His patience and kindness towards us. And yet…..
It is humbling to think all we have to do is turn, repent. He has seen our ways, but the good shepherd is always looking for the one who is afar off. The one who has wandered from the flock and is now in danger, maybe hurt. He wants to heal us. He wants to lead us. He wants to give us peace. But not any peace, perfect peace.
That is why he says it twice, peace, peace.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 KJV
God knows exactly where we are and exactly what we are going through. He knows our unbelief, fear, anger, pain, and self doubt. He knows how we are relying on other things (gods) to get us through. And yet his mercy and grace are always there, waiting.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 KJV
Having perfect peace does not mean you will not have conflict or pain. Perfect peace means you are whole or complete in Him. You can put your focus on Jesus and take it off of your circumstances.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for your abundant mercy and grace. Thank you for your faithfulness, even though we are not always faithful. Lord we ask for peace in our minds. Show us how we have turned from you. Help us to be instruments of your peace, where there is hatred we sow love; where these is pain, we sow forgiveness; where there is doubt, we sow faith; where there is despair we sow hope; where there is darkness, we sow light, where there is sadness, we sow joy. In Jesus name, Amen
Amen!