by Emily Wooten
Psalms 4:8 — “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”
The word translated peace in this scripture means completeness, soundness, and safety. How many times in the last year have you longed for that sound feeling of being secure, knowing that everything has been arranged and is in order? Did you remember the scriptures that remind us that His strength is ours and that His peace will cause our hearts to be sound?
Isaiah 26:3 — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Philippians 4:6–7 — “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 — “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.”
Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Jesus never told people to be afraid or to worry. He also never suggested that the disease they had might be too hard for Him to cure. Everywhere Jesus went, He healed those who came to Him. We can have confidence that our Heavenly Father wants good things for us, too.
In Matthew 8:1–3, we read: “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”
In Luke’s version, we are told that the man was full of leprosy. There is no sickness or disease that is too hard for God. Keeping our peace when the doctors give us a bad report can be a challenge, but keeping our eyes on Jesus will help us maintain our focus.
Matthew 4:23 — “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
Whether we come to God for physical healing, mental exhaustion, or a grieving heart, God is not only able, but He is also willing to meet us where we are and help us rise above our circumstances to rest in His peace.
We may not always understand what is happening around us, and we may face circumstances that challenge our faith, but we can choose to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is still our source. When our hearts are overwhelmed, we can trust in Him and take His peace, embracing the comfort of the Holy Spirit. He will speak peace to our souls as we enter into his word and take it as our own.