And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And be thankful
Written by Amy Tones
My word of the year for 2022 was peace. There was no booming voice that told me what word to pick. I work in healthcare and the pandemic had made it obvious that I was in need of some peace. What God has shown me during this year is almost indescribable. I have learned that things do not have to be peaceful around me in order for me to be at peace. I have developed a practice of becoming aware when events are spinning out of control. Then I sit back and close my eyes and put my soul at peace. I pray, I sing a worship song (In my head of course), I meditate on a Scripture verse, I may even picture my family, or my dog Ralph. This practice has helped me to gain the peace that God has intended our souls to be steeped in. I have found that this activity helps to re-center me. Does it always work? Of course not, I am human after all, but I have made great strides in learning to rest in Him. My peace comes from Jesus, not the events that swirl around during my day.
I have also learned that it is easy to get caught up in what the world says. The world says many things to us. We are not good enough, we are not working hard enough, we are not learning fast enough, we are quite simply not enough. God, however, calls us to allow Peace to rule our hearts, not the events of the day, not the frustration that I feel, not the anger that at times overcomes my spirit. I think of that line in The Lion King “Simba, remember who you are.” I have learned to remember who I am. I am a child of God that He loves so very much.. Peace is at our fingertips if we only keep our eyes on Jesus. Remember who you are. You are a child of God that is called to live in the peace that comes only from Him. I am eternally grateful for the knowledge that I have gained through sitting with the one that loves me most of all. A loving father that can move mountains and can part seas but still loves me enough to meet me where I am.
