Peace-Stealers

Peace. Is it just me, or do you find it increasingly difficult to actually feel peaceful in a world which constantly shouts everything except peace? I won’t enumerate the various threats to our peace. I’m sure you have your own list. It seems there is always something. Quite possibly, the things which threaten to steal our peace tomorrow will be different from what threatens to steal it today.

Whatever the reason for a loss of peace, I’m finding I have a choice. I can allow the things of this world to steal my peace right out from under me, or I can take those peace-stealers straight to Jesus and leave them at his feet.

I wish I could tell you every time a situation begins to pull my peace away, I immediately ran into Christ’s arms, but that would not be the truth. More times than not, I cogitate and worry. As I dwell on what’s going on around me, my mind gets pulled further and further away from Jesus.

Recently, I read a devotion by Lysa TerKuerst in which she described the treasure of thrown-away food. She said a truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person. They made a habit, no matter what, to notice, pause, and choose.

Lysa explained it this way.

A peaceful person notices something for which to be thankful no matter their circumstances. They pause to acknowledge this something as a reminder of God’s presence. And they choose to focus on God’s presence until his powerful peace is unleashed.

Notice. Pause. Choose.

Sounds simple, right? But how often in the midst of our not so peaceful situations do we practice that?

Right now in my life, there are several major peace-stealers working overtime to pull me away from God. Actually, there are more than several. There are five as I write this.

It is similar to a brush fire. You get one hot-spot extinguished, turn to put out another, only to find the one you thought you stomped out, has re-ignited.

courtesy pixabay

This is where Lysa’s notice, pause, choose comes in. Here is where we take a stand and make a choice to notice all God is doing in the midst of our situation and thank him for what he has done for us in the past, acknowledging he didn’t bring us this far to drop us now.

This is where we pause and pray without ceasing.

This is where, like the disciples in prison, we choose to praise God before he delivers us.

As the chaos of our lives swirls around us, threatening to steal our peace and pull us under, let’s choose peace. Let’s notice something for which to be thankful in the midst of the situation, pause to acknowledge God’s presence with us, and focus on him instead of our peace-stealers.

I wish you well.

Sandy Kirby Quandt

Sandy Kirby Quandt is a follower of Jesus with a passion for history and travel. Passions that often weave their way into her stories and articles. She writes articles, devotions, and stories for adult and children publications. She is a regular contributor to Guideposts devotional books, as well as a conference speaker. Sandy has won multiple awards for her writing, including several years in the Young Adult category of the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition. However, her greatest honor came when she received the Right Stuff Award at Space Camp for Educators. Looking for words of encouragement or gluten-free recipes? Then check out her blog at https://sandykirbyquandt.com

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