In Genesis Chapter 12, God instructs Abraham, formerly Abram, to leave his country and his father’s household and to go to the land He would direct him to. He promised to make him a great nation, that his name would be blessed and that he would be blessed and be a blessing to others. Abraham was seventy-five years old when God spoke to him.
    The problem was that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren and she was past child-bearing age. God, however, promised Abraham that his offspring would inherit the land of Canaan to which He was directing him. Abraham and Sarah had no idea how God was going to do it. They even tried to make God’s Word come to pass through Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. Hagar was able to bear Abraham a son, but God did not accept this child as the child of promise. God was going to do the impossible through his wife, Sarah, and cause her to bear a child in her old age. 
    Twenty-five years after His promise, Sarah, at ninety years old, gave birth to her first-born son, Isaac. God did what was impossible for man to do. 
    At the time God spoke to Abraham, both he and his wife had most likely already given up on the thought of having children. They were both advanced in age and were probably simply content with their situation. Have you ever been in a situation where things were not working out the way you had hoped and planned and you simply became comfortable with how things were? You were past the stage of disappointment, even past the stage of hope and you simply chose to be content. Abraham and his wife were most likely not even thinking about children anymore. And then, God came on the scene. 
    What I find interesting is that God chose a barren couple to fulfil His will. He could have chosen a couple, much younger in age and able to easily have children. But He did not. God chose an impossible situation to do an impossible thing. You may look at your life and at your situation and all you see is the “impossible.” You can’t see yourself past your limitations and challenges. But here’s the thing - God can take all that you are not and do something great and excellent with it. When people may look at you and also see what’s impossible, God does not see the way man sees. God is able to do amazing things with an ordinary life, amazing things with a broken life, amazing things with a life that doesn’t seem to have much to offer. Here’s the key - God can do it!
    But the key thing with this story is the fact that God can bring joy out of unexpected situations. When we’re not looking for it, when we’re not expecting it, God can bring joy through unexpected miracles and blessings. That’s the God we serve. God delights in putting a smile on our face and joy in our hearts. He delights to do what He knows we can’t do on our own. Imagine Sarah’s joy at being able to produce life when she thought that this opportunity was gone. Imagine her joy at no longer being negatively labeled by society because of barrenness. Imagine her joy at the fact that what God had promised, He had brought to pass … not them! They couldn’t do it but they had connected with a God who could!    
    Yet, it doesn’t stop there. They named their son “Isaac” which means “laughter.” And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:6-7) Imagine here Sarah’s joy that she was able to provide a child for her husband and not have to rely on anyone else to do it for him. God sees the secret pain and disappointment of our hearts that no one else sees. 
    Yes, God is love but He is also joy, turning impossible situations around thus bringing joy to our hearts and lives. As I love to say, God sees, God hears, God knows and He will answer when we least expect it and in ways we least expect. Be encouraged!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God delights in replacing our sorrow with joy, in sending unexpected blessings our way. He loves us and has a beautiful plan for our lives. Just trust Him!  

    In Luke 10:25-37, we read the story of the good Samaritan. When an expert in the law asks Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asks him what the Law says. The man replies: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbour as yourself.” (v.27) Jesus told him that he had responded correctly and added that he should do the same so that he might live. But the man further pressed Him wanting to know who was his neighbour. Jesus then shared the story of a man who was attacked by thieves while on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was stripped of his clothing, wounded and left half dead. A priest came along and saw him but he passed on the other side. A levite also came and saw him and passed on the other side. A Samaritan also came and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. He bandaged his wounds and poured on oil and wine. He put him on his animal, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day, as he was leaving, he gave the innkeeper some money and asked him to take care of him. He added that if the innkeeper spent more on his care, when he returned, he would repay him. When Jesus asked the expert in the law which one of the men were the man’s neighbour, he told Jesus the one who had shown him mercy. Jesus encouraged him to go and do the same. 
    I usually view this story as one that encourages us to show kindness to others, no matter who they might be. But there is in fact a bigger picture. What that Samaritan did for that unfortunate man, is what Jesus has done for all of us. It does not matter who we are, what we have done or what we have been through. Christ came to die for all. Traditionally, Jews and Samaritans did not get along. So the fact that this Samaritan chose to help this Jew, especially when the Jew’s own countrymen - the priest and the Levite - refused to help him, is truly an act of compassion and love. That’s exactly what God chose to do for us. He did not just send His Son, Jesus, to die for the Jew but for the Gentile as well. God’s love and His gift of salvation encompasses all.
    The rejection by the Jewish man’s fellow Jews is a reminder to us that at times we too may be rejected or ignored by those around us - sometimes those we most expect to show compassion to us. That can be painful. Have you ever reached out to someone, expecting them to help you but instead face rejection? They may make up an excuse or just outright refuse to help you. Rejection is not an easy thing to deal with especially coming from those you expect to show sympathy. Yet, at times rejection is a very real part of life. 
    God’s love and compassion, on the other hand, is in stark contrast to that rejection. God is not turned off by who you are, what you’ve done or failed to do, or by the situation you are going through. God’s love sees right through all of that and chooses to care about your need. In our darkest moments, God’s love shines through like a light giving us hope and encouragement. Nothing can separate us from God’s love for us. Nothing can stop God from loving us. And, more than two thousand years ago, nothing stopped Him from sacrificing His Son so that we could have the gift of eternal life. The Samaritan gave all of his help without holding back. So too, God gave and continues to gives us His love without holding back. 
    God will never withhold His gift of salvation from us but we do have to make the choice to receive it. The Jewish man’s life was restored because of the Samaritan’s act of kindness and selflessness. God wants to restore your life and give you the gift of life eternal. Will you make that choice today? You will not be disappointed.
    If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God’s love and compassion never fail. If He is willing to give you the gift of eternal life, why not be willing to receive it. The choice is yours.

    In Acts 13:1-12, Paul and Barnabas are set apart for the work of the Lord. They are subsequently led by the Holy Spirit to different cities where they preach the Gospel. When they arrive at Paphos, they meet a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas. He was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The latter sends for Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to hear the word of God. However, Elymas tries to discourage him from the faith. However, Paul filled with the Holy Spirit, rebukes him and he becomes blind. When the proconsul, impressed by the teaching about the Lord, sees this, he immediately believes.
    A few things get my attention about this story of salvation. One, a Roman proconsul desires to hear the word of God. This man was extremely wealthy. He was a member of the senatorial class which boasted great wealth and political power in the Roman empire. It would seem he had everything and lacked nothing, yet, he was curious about the word of God. Clearly he had heard about Paul and Barnabas and their teaching and he wanted to know more. Thankfully, his curiosity caused him to receive something far greater and more valuable than all that he had - salvation. 
    This reminds me of the reality that salvation is for everyone, not just the poor, not just for those who are struggling. God sees all of our need. He is not distracted by our outward accomplishments because He knows that our soul is not satisfied by these things. Thank God that He sent Paul and Barnabas by the Holy Spirit to this particular city. He knew that that Roman proconsul needed so much more than what he already had - he needed salvation. 
    I love the reality that God is willing to embrace us all no matter our social standing, education, position or accomplishments. He knows that we all need Him. After all we have all come short of His glory and we need Him to provide us with a treasure far greater than what this world has to offer. 
    Second, the Jewish sorcerer tried to prevent his salvation. The good thing is, God did not allow him to succeed. What comes to my mind is the fact that God sees our heart. He knew that the proconsul wanted to hear about Him and He was not going to allow anyone or anything to prevent that from happening. 
    God sees your heart. He knows your desires. He knows what you need. The enemy may try to prevent you from connecting with God and receiving His best for you, but God knows exactly how to ensure that you get His help when you need it. In spite of the enemy’s best efforts, God is bigger and more powerful than any attempt the enemy may make to stop you from receiving God’s salvation and deliverance. 
    God sees. God knows. God cares. God knows exactly how to get to you, to help you in your time of need. Nothing and no one can stop God’s love from reaching you. God is all-powerful, all-mighty, more than able. Be encouraged.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God loves you and when you reach out to Him, He will not ignore you. His desire to connect with you is even greater than your own. He will push past obstacles and challenges to ensure that you receive the salvation He desires for you.

    In Acts chapter 16:23-34, Paul and Silas are in Philippi where they are beaten and thrown into jail. In spite of their pain and discomfort, at midnight, they began to pray and sing hymns to God. Suddenly there was a great earthquake and all the doors to the jail cells were opened and the prisoners’ chains loosed. The keeper of the prison who had been asleep, awoke and saw the doors opened. He thought that the prisoners had escaped and he drew his sword intending to kill himself. But Paul called out to him assuring him that no one had left their cell. The jailer in turn fell down trembling before Paul and Silas asking them what he needed to do to be saved. They told him to believe on the Lord Jesus and he and his household would be saved. He brought them to his home where they preached to him and his family. They believed and were baptised. He also washed their wounds and gave them food to eat.
    I have focused in the past on the whole idea of Paul and Silas singing and praising God in spite of their dire circumstances and the reality of God’s deliverance because their attitude was one of worship instead of complaining. But today I am focusing on the jailer and his story. Interestingly, you would think that the purpose of the earthquake was to give Paul and Silas the opportunity to be set free. However, God used it to bring about a different kind of freedom - the one of a lost soul. It would seem that the purpose of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment was to save this Gentile jailer. 
    It reminds us that God would go to any lengths to bring about our salvation. After all, He already sacrificed His Son to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to. It was therefore no small thing to sacrifice his disciples’ comfort to bring about the salvation of another. In God’s eyes, that jailer was important.
    Additionally, it is important to note that when that earthquake took place and the prison doors opened, not a single prisoner made an effort to escape. If they had, the jailer would have been punished, even put to death for the escape of the prisoners in his charge. God knew this and did not allow a single prisoner to move. Once again, it wasn’t about anyone escaping but about God proving His love for this one jailer, and the lengths to which He would go to get his attention and to motivate him to receive His gift of salvation. 
    For some of us, when we think about our own lives, if we are honest, we can remember the lengths God went to, just to get our attention. We are that important to Him. He loves us that much. 
    When the jailer realised that no one had made an effort to escape, he immediately came before Paul and Silas, asking them how he could be saved. He must have realised that what had happened was not normal. Somewhere along the line, he seemed to realise that God had a part to play in all of it and he wanted to connect with this God who clearly spared his own life. He knew there was an earthquake. He knew all chains were miraculously loosed and prison doors opened. But he was also forced to acknowledge something even more miraculous - not a prisoner had left their cell. God wanted to get his attention and He did. How far has God gone to get your attention? How did you respond?
    Finally, the jailer knew exactly who to go to ask about salvation. He must have heard Paul and Silas singing and praying to God. As children of God, our lives, in both the good times and the bad, should be the arrow that points people to Christ. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14 & 16) and we have the answer they need to escape the challenges this world has to offer. God is interested in using both our good times and our challenging ones to lead lost souls to Him. Don’t believe for one minute that that situation you are going through is in vain. God will use both the good and the bad in our lives to encourage someone else. Nothing we go through is wasted.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God loves you and will go to any lengths to motivate you to serve Him. And when you turn your life over to Him, He will in turn use you to lead others to Him. 
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    In Luke 19:1-10 we meet Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector from Jericho. Jesus was passing through Jericho and when Zacchaeus heard about it he wanted to see Him. Unfortunately, he was short. He decided to climb a tree in hopes of seeing Jesus as He passed by. When Jesus reached the tree, He looked up, saw him and instructed him to come down because He was going to visit his home. However, those who heard what Jesus planned to do complained that He was going to be a guest at the home of a sinner. Zacchaeus on the other hand, was so overjoyed that he hurried down  from the tree and told the Lord that he would give half of his goods to the poor and if he had taken anything wrongfully from anyone, he would restore it fourfold. Jesus in turn declared: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (vv.9-10)
    I found this story of salvation interesting for a few reasons. One, Zacchaeus’ tiny stature. He was short but he so desired to get a view of Jesus as He passed by that he decided to climb a tree. I love his determination. He didn’t let his small size stop him from getting a view of Jesus. How determined are we at times to connect with God? Do we make excuses or do we make an effort? We may feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to stop what we’re doing and spend time with Him. At that point, do we submit to His leading or do we continue doing what we are doing thus deeming it more important than time with our Father? It can be so easy to make excuses. God will never interrupt us if it were not important and sometimes I think He just wants to spend some time with us. 
    Two, Jesus took notice of Zacchaeus. There may have been other people in trees and walls trying to get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. The Bible does not say. But Zacchaeus was in a tree and Jesus could have walked right past him, after all, there were so many other people around for Him to notice. But that’s the God we serve. He sees us. Even when others don’t see us or even care what’s going on in our lives, God chooses to take notice. I like to think that God is intentional. He intentionally chooses to take notice of us and to care about what concerns us. He doesn’t ignore us or pretend that we are not there. Others might. But God sees and chooses to pay attention.
    Three, Zacchaeus was not the most popular person in that town. He was a tax collector, the chief one at that. He had unfortunately wronged so many people and this deemed him unpopular, someone that no one wanted to be around because they could not trust him. His track record was not good. But Jesus chose not to focus on his flaws like everyone else. He saw the man and He saw his need. He chose to reach out to him when no one else would. By just inviting Himself to his house, He was able to bring about the necessary change in Zacchaeus’ life. Zacchaeus wanted and needed love just like everyone else and Jesus did not hold back, He freely gave it. Jesus sees you in a way that no one else does. He does not focus on your flaws but on you, the person, and He desires to meet your need. He loves you in a way that no one else can or may be even willing to. 
    Four, Jesus publicly acknowledged Zacchaeus. While people saw him as an outcast because of his profession, Zacchaeus’ desire to make things right, caused Jesus to publicly reverse his outcast status. Jesus reminded the crowd that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham who had simply lost his way because of greed. He was as deserving of mercy and salvation like everyone else. 
    God is not blind to your faults and flaws. He knows them but chooses to offer the gift of salvation. God knows what you deserve, but He chooses to offer what you need - salvation. Jesus chose to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to. It wasn’t because we deserve it - because we don’t - but because of God’s immeasurable love for us. Let’s not take His salvation for granted. If He is willing to give it, let’s be willing to receive it.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God’s gift of salvation is not dependent on your worthiness but on His love for you. God desires the best for you in spite of your flaws and shortcomings. God loves you. Period. And there is nothing you can do to change that.
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    Robyn was on the way to the hospital in an ambulance fighting for her life. Doctors realised that she had several blood clots in her lungs and a large one in her heart. On the way to the hospital her husband, Phillip, a former pastor, prayed but felt as if God was not listening to him. Whatever he prayed for, the opposite seemed to happen. At the hospital, doctors got themselves ready to remove the clot in her heart. Unfortunately, by the time she got to the hospital, it had moved to her lungs. When her husband got to the hospital, she told him what had happened. The next thing he knew, she was going into cardiac arrest. The medical team made desperate efforts to remove the clot. 
    While waiting, Phillip prayed. He couldn’t picture his life without his wife. He asked God to show him if there was anything in his heart that he needed to get out of the way. The Holy Spirit asked him if he would give up on Him if He chose not to bring her back. He admitted it would not be easy but he promised Him that he would do his best to keep pressing on, that he would not give up on Him. He would keep standing, he would keep testifying, he would keep preaching. After he said that, he experienced a strange calm. 
    During this time, Robyn had coded and had been without a heartbeat for fifteen minutes. She found herself standing in front of Jesus. She felt awe, joy, peace. It was so bright she could not see His face. Jesus turned towards a particular dark place and He said, “Okay Satan show me what you think you’re going to do.” He went on further to say, “I Am is going to show you what I Am is going to do.” And Jesus breathed a breath and that breath went into Robyn and filled her lungs. Her body raised on the table at the hospital and they knew she was back. 
    Her heart and lungs began functioning again. The doctor expressed concern about possible damage to her brain. However, Robyn made a complete recovery and went home a week later.  
​    A few things caught my attention with this testimony. Phillip was crying out to God. He did not think he could go on without his wife. Yet, when Jesus asked him if he would give up on Him if He decided not to bring his wife back, Phillip affirmed that he would not give up on his God. After declaring that, he felt a strange peace. 
    For the past month I have been talking about God being a God of peace. It is interesting that when we fully surrender that fearful situation to Him, when we even surrender our desire for the outcome to Him, He gives us a peace that makes no sense. The problem may not have changed but we do in the midst of the trial. It’s about trusting God even though the outcome might not be what we would like. 
    While writing this post, after hearing Phillip’s response to God, I told God honestly, “Where would I go?” It was a legitimate rhetorical question  because if God is with me in the storm and giving me the strength I need to go through it, if things don’t work out the way I would like, why turn anywhere else? Who else could I turn to who would give me the peace and strength He provides. Who else would be able to sustain me like He does? Who else would help me both survive and thrive in the midst of a negative situation. For me, I agree with Phillip. I would keep serving God because nothing else would make sense. 
    When Job lost everything, even the support of family and friends, he worshipped God, he did not turn his back on Him. When David went through trial after trial, he never gave up on his God. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his only promised son, he chose obedience to God, thus choosing God over trying to keep his son alive. At the end of the day, our peace comes from knowing that our God is with us in both the good times and bad. He will never fail us, He will never abandon us, He is always there no matter what we may face. Giving up on God is not an option. The peace we so desperately need is all wrapped up in Him!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. The reality is we need God like we need air to breathe. Turning our back on Him is not an option. He is our everything and we are nothing and can do nothing without Him!

    In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus has gone to the region of the Gadarenes. There he meets a man possessed with a legion of evil spirits. This man had been living in the cemetery and attempts to bind and contain him with chains and irons had proved impossible. He was always able to break out of them. As if that wasn’t enough he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 
    What man could not do, Jesus was able to do. He commanded the evil spirits to come out of him and to go into a herd of pigs feeding nearby. When they entered the pigs, the entire herd ran down the hillside into the lake and drowned. When the people of the town heard about it, they came and saw the man clothed and in his right mind. When they found out what had happened, they asked Jesus to leave their area.
    In this short account, we meet a man who had been tormented for some time. We are not told for how long. His situation seemed hopeless because no matter what people tried to do to contain him, their efforts were futile. His torment was obvious because he would cry out and cut himself with stones. It seemed as if his torment would never end. Sometimes, we too may feel like that as we go through our own challenges. We may even find ourselves asking God, “How long?” as we look in vain for some light at the end of the tunnel. 
    What I like about this story is the fact that when Jesus came to that area, no one had told him about this demon-possessed man. He saw him for Himself and understood the torment he was going through. He commanded the evil spirits to come out of him even though the man had not asked for help. I always like to say that God sees, God knows and He cares. We may not always be able to articulate our cry for help but I believe that God sees and hears our tears and our moans and groans. He knows when we are in trouble and He is right there to help even though we may not clearly ask for it. 
    It’s also interesting that Jesus was not intimidated or turned off by the man’s condition. Jesus chose to go to Him. Though many had tried and had given up, the God of the universe was not about to do the same. I love the fact that God loves us enough that He doesn’t give up on us even when others have done so. There is nothing that we can do, there is no state that we can be in, that will stop God from coming to our rescue. God will meet us right where we are, we don’t even have to clean ourselves up first. Others may see us as unreachable, as hopeless, but God see us as worth the effort. And, what man cannot do, God is quite able to accomplish. That’s why we can call Him the God of the impossible!
    Finally, and thankfully, after a season of torment, the man is set free. I say thankfully because if  Jesus did it for him, He will certainly do it for us. It’s encouraging to note that negative seasons do not last forever. Even though to that man and to those around him, it seemed as if he would remain in that state forever, he did not. When Jesus came onto the scene, things changed. The deliverance that seemed impossible became possible. What seemed like it would last an eternity, did not. Your negative season will not last forever. When Jesus is in the picture, even the impossible will become possible. 
        What I also like is the man’s sense of peace which was evident to all. Without Christ, his life was one of torment. But, from the time Jesus stepped onto the scene and reached out to him, transformation took place, and he experienced peace. Our challenges are designed to frustrate, discourage, torment us. But when we let Jesus take charge, He gives us a peace that makes no sense. Even when the challenge has not been resolved, we can be at peace knowing that the Waymaker will make a way for us through our challenge to enable us to overcome it. God will never fail us!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. There is no challenge or trial that is bigger than our God. He sees, He knows and He is able to deliver. When we put our trust in Him, He will not disappoint us.

    As I once again attempt to write on the idea of peace, I admit that it has not been easy finding stories or passages of scripture I have not already written about in the past. Case in point, I have written a few posts on Psalm 23 and felt there was no need to use this Psalm to illustrate the idea of peace again. But, when it comes to God’s Word, I am learning that there is so much you can learn from even one story, one verse or portion of scripture. 
    In Psalm 23 we see a descriptive picture of a shepherd taking care of his sheep. The Psalm begins with the words, “ The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” (v.1). That very first verse encapsulates and covers what comes in the following verses - because the Lord is my shepherd, my keeper, my support, I will have need of nothing. I used to think that that need mainly referred to physical needs but I have come to realise it does not. Whether I have material, emotional, mental, physical needs, my Shepherd covers them all.
     Here’s the thing, when you think of a shepherd and his sheep, you think of creatures that are heavily dependent on their keeper. They are aware that they cannot take proper care of themselves. At times they may not even be aware of what they need but that’s where the shepherd comes in - He knows their every need and does His best to supply it. It’s the same with us. In our case, we would love to think that we know everything and can take care of ourselves. But the reality is, we don’t know everything and sometimes we make choices and decisions that cause us more harm than good. 
    Verse 2 says: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” Clearly, it’s not the sheep who makes the choice to lie down but the shepherd. Similarly with us, God knows when we need to rest and rejuvenate. We ourselves may not know it, but God certainly knows how to help us get the rest we need when we need it. I recall here the story of Jesus and His disciples. He had sent them out two by two to do ministry in various places (Mark 6:7-13). When they returned, He encouraged them to go to a quiet place to rest (v.30-32). Jesus was pleased with their efforts but He knew and understood the importance of rest.
    It is interesting to note however, that sheep will not easily lie down unless certain needs are met. If they are afraid, hungry, bothered by flies or parasites, or facing conflict among themselves, rest is virtually impossible. The shepherd has to first ensure that all these needs are addressed to enable the sheep to get the rest it needs. It’s the same with us actually. I know for me personally, rest can be difficult to attain if I am dealing with fear, conflict or some other distress. I can go to sleep but get up feeling quite tired because my mind is dealing with fear and stress. Yet, I have also learned that when I literally give it God, rest is not so difficult to achieve. 
    So, how does all of this relate to the idea of peace? In pretty much every way! Remember last week I shared a few definitions of peace: freedom from disturbance, tranquility, mental or emotional calm. When we put our confidence in our God, He meets all our needs, frees our mind and spirit from distress and turmoil and ensures that we get the rest we need when and how we need it. Right there is where we can experience peace. It’s the peace where we know that we know that our Shepherd will take care of us, He will leave nothing out but ensure that in every area of our lives, our needs are met. We don’t like when trouble comes, yet, we don’t have to worry, when our Shepherd is right there, ready to tackle on our behalf whatever challenge comes our way. As I always like to say, He has our backs, He will not let us down.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. Our God is truly a Shepherd who sees our every need. He cares and He knows exactly how to help us find rest and peace when we need it. Be encouraged!​

    In Daniel chapter 6, we read the story of Daniel, a Jew who was in the service of the Babylonian king. He conducted himself with such a spirit and attitude of excellence that he found favour with the king who considered putting him in charge of the entire kingdom. The other governors and satraps were not pleased with this and looked for ways to bring charges against him. Unfortunately, they could find none because he truly displayed a spirit of excellence as he carried out his duties.
    They finally encouraged the king to enforce a law whereby anyone praying to any god or person, other than the king himself, within thirty days, would be thrown into the lions’ den. This they did knowing that Daniel prayed regularly to his God. When Daniel found out that the decree had been signed by the king, he went to his room and prayed to his God as was his custom. The men saw him and brought it to the king’s attention. The king in turn did everything in his power to deliver Daniel however, in the end, he had no choice  but to obey the decree he had signed. The next morning, when the king went to check on Daniel, he discovered that the lions had not touched him. Daniel’s God had delivered him. 
    This is a story of God’s miraculous deliverance. It gives us the facts about what happened. However, it does not clearly reveal Daniel’s feelings. What we read is that he heard about the decree and that the king had signed it and that he did exactly what he always did - he went to his room and prayed to his God three times that day. Daniel trusted in his God. He believed in his God. He knew that no matter what happened, his God was in charge and he was going to take care of him. 
    This tells me that Daniel felt peace about the situation. It was what it was, the law had been decreed. No matter what happened, he would still serve his God. I don’t know if fear was present, the account does not say. What it does say is that he went about his business as usual. In fact, when he heard the decree had been signed, he went home and prayed. He did not hesitate, he did not even try to do it in secret. He opened his window toward Jerusalem, as he usually did, and he prayed and gave God thanks.
    Daniel’s peace was because of his confidence and trust in his God. He knew what his God could do. After all, He had delivered his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to bow before any other god but their own (Daniel 3). And if God could deliver them, He could deliver him as well. 
    In recent times, I have been asking God to fix my eyes and my heart on Him so that no matter what comes my way, I am focused on Him. I may not be able to stop the negative things that will come my way, but I can choose to focus on the One who is able to take me through that situation. I think this is what Daniel did. He chose to keep his eyes fixed on his God. This gave him a sense of peace. No matter how things went, he would not worry, he would not try to compromise to save himself. It was what it was but he was who he was - a servant of the living God and God would take care of him in this situation. The king, on the other hand, was so distressed that he fasted and refused any entertainment, the entire night. The next morning he hurried to the lions’ den hoping to hear that Daniel’s God had delivered him. He was not disappointed and gave glory to Daniel’s God. 
    I pray the same for us, that we would so fix our eyes and heart on our God that no matter what comes our way, we can be at peace knowing that God will take care of us. No one likes when trouble comes, but when our lives are hidden in the God who is able to do all things, we can be at peace. It’s about being at peace in the midst of whatever stormy situation we are facing, because we know that we know that God will take care of us and He will work all things together for our good.
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God is that agent of peace that enables us to face every negative and fearful situation that comes our way. We can’t stop the negative from happening but when we fix our eyes on Him, He will strengthen us and give us a peace that makes no sense.​

    We are all familiar with the word “peace.” It denotes, freedom from disturbance; tranquility; mental or emotional calm. It seems we are constantly striving towards it but too many times we are not quite able to attain it. It’s a word that may offer hope but may in reality appear quite elusive at times.
     Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, the One we can turn to when all hell seems to be breaking loose. Time and again, if we allow Him, He can prove to be that stable anchor we need to keep us steady when our world feels shaky and unstable. 
    As I began researching material to write on the whole idea of God being a God of peace, I came across a number of stories alluding to this whole idea of peace. Yet, somehow, they did not get my attention in the way I wanted. I also looked at portions of scripture on peace and a few things caught my attention but didn’t seem to quite grab it. Then Psalm 91 came to my attention. It doesn’t speak about peace per se, but about the confidence we can have in God’s protection. And that grabbed my attention. As I perused this very familiar psalm, I realised that pretty much every verse was reinforcing God’s covering and protection over our lives. But here’s the key - we have to abide in His presence. It is in His presence that we are covered and where we can ultimately find peace.
    It doesn’t speak about taking away or removing the problems, challenges or attacks that may come our way, but about God protecting us, shielding us from every attack that comes. And to me that’s where our peace comes from - knowing that no matter what comes our way, God has our back and He will not allow the enemy to prevail against us. 
    He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2) The opening lines of this psalm cover everything that comes after. It is because we are dwelling in God’s presence, that we are protected from all harm and evil. And it is because we are trusting in Him that we are safe. We are safe because we know that we know, He will take care of us. It’s that quiet confidence and faith that brings a peace that makes no sense, so that as the arrows and the darts come toward us, we know that God is near and the present help we need. 
    Interestingly, this does not necessarily mean the absence of fear in our lives. As we face what we face, fear may be present, but we can also be honest with God and say, “God I am afraid but I trust You.” In 2 Chronicles 20, when king Jehoshaphat and Judah were faced with a combined army coming against them, they were very afraid. Immediately, Jehoshaphat turned to his God. He was honest with Him when he said, “I don’t know what to do but my eyes are on you.” (v.12) He did not pretend they were not in danger and he did not pretend to not be afraid. He was very much afraid but he also knew exactly Who to turn to. He also acknowledged that he felt totally helpless but, he would trust in His God. When God promised to fight for them, Jehoshaphat was at peace knowing that God would fight and win on their behalf. And God did not disappoint!
    So be encouraged. When you choose to abide in God’s presence and trust in Him, you can and will have peace knowing that He has your back and He will take care of you. God will not let you down. He is the God of peace.
    If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. In a world filled with chaos, we all need to be find that peace that only God can give, a peace that makes no sense at times. God is our peace. He will not fail us.