The Power Of Peace

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

“I’ve been called back for additional screening. The radiologist wants a closer look.”

My text went into further details and then confessed: “My past experiences with loved ones and breast cancer mean fear is creeping into this process. Please pray over my mind and my emotions—that my fear would be replaced by the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”

And with that, my text zipped off to several women who love and pray for me.

While my additional screenings were filled with good news, those days filled with waiting had me realizing that my love for Jesus doesn’t mean fear never gets its insidious claws into me. And while I know intellectually that my anxious thoughts are not from God, and that Scriptures telling us not to be afraid are found all throughout the Old and New Testaments, sometimes fear still momentarily gets the best of me, especially when circumstances are far beyond my control.

For me, secret fears are a powerful force that push me into a spiral of paralysis and shame. I know I’m not supposed to fear, so when I do, a nasty little inner voice loves to tell me that I must be a failed Christian. The temptation is to put on a brave front, lying to myself and those around me, projecting fake confidence so that no one will see that my faith momentarily gets a bit wobbly from time to time.

When I’m in a battle against fear, I’ve learned to confess it to trusted loved ones, asking for prayer. And while we need to use discernment and wisdom in who we entrust with our vulnerabilities, exposing our secret worries often renders them less potent. Satan’s lies cannot withstand the light of God’s truth, and allowing others to stand alongside us in prayer and speak truth over the situation is a powerful weapon.

God’s peace is a promise we can—and should—claim. It is a gift, freely given, no matter the circumstance.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Make a plan for combating fear: memorize a verse (John 14:27 or another), confess your concerns to someone who will pray for and with you, and thank God for his promise of peace.