The Secret to Having Peace in Life When Your Plate is Full
Autumn tends to be a full season for our family. Every year, this season nudges me to seek a deeper level of peace in life when the demands of my days feel overwhelming.
This year, I’ve been shuttling the oldest to cross-country practice, storing vegetables from the garden, writing words, holding things down on the homefront, and fulfilling all the normal requirements that fill our days.
Slipping away to the woods, it feels good to pause in the middle of it all.
The Secret for Deeper Peace in Life
As I quiet my racing mind, I think of a recent study on the book of Exodus.
Moses is leading God’s people away from slavery in Egypt, and Pharaoh is close behind. In the natural realm, there’s plenty of reason to fear.
That’s when Moses answers the fearful people with these words: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV).
We quote the last part of this passage when life feels overwhelming and we’re not sure what to do: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
For years I assumed “being still” meant doing nothing.
A deeper study of the original language leads us to the Hebrew word charash.
Interestingly, charash doesn’t mean “stopping.” It means relaxing on the inside. Another translation of this verse puts it this way: “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (KJV).
How to “Hold Your Peace”
Holding my peace is a very different posture in contrast to doing nothing.
Peace is what happens in a spirit that has been quieted.
Peace is being still, but it does not necessarily denote standing still.
Do you need to be still in an area of your life today?
Do you need to be still and hold your peace over a worry that’s been keeping you up at night?
Do you need to keep your peace over a health issue or a financial situation or an uncertain future?
What is interesting about the account of Moses in Exodus 14 is that one verse after the reminder to “be still,” the Lord says to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15 NASB).
Clearly, the imperative to “be still” is a state of the soul as we rest in the Lord. We are called to walk in his peace, all while continuing to walk and obey his Word.
How to Have Peace in Life Amid Struggles:
Let’s break this down and apply it to our lives in three ways today. Here are three examples of times when God might tell you to still your soul in his peace, yet continue walking forward:
1. Ask God to quiet your spirit while you continue to proactively fulfill your role.
I remember reading the words about being still years ago when little Bekah was 12 months into a debilitating health issue. It was scary, exhausting, life-altering, and heartbreaking to watch her suffer.
On a dark February night, I stumbled into Exodus 14:14 and decided it was time to reclaim peace.
At the same time, I continued researching her condition, adapting her diet, seeking medical advice, and asking for prayer. I learned how to be still in my spirit, all while being very proactive in my actions.
Ask God to help you walk in his peace while you continue to fulfill your role in the situation you are facing. He waits to quiet your heart and bring you to a place of peace and rest while you proactively search for solutions to the problem you are facing.
2. Rest in God while you work.
Are you worried about how you’ll pay the bills this month, how you’ll dig out of debt from that unexpected expense, or where you’ll find the money for braces, college, or your daughter’s wedding?
The Lord is calling you to walk in a state of inner peace, all while continuing to follow him in your calling.
This might be a season to revamp your budget, revisit your resume, or pick up a little something on the side. The Lord is calling you to trust him and rest in him while you work.
3. Take the first small step in the direction of your dream.
Is there a dream hidden in the deepest part of you?
Do you have hopes to write a book, start a business, go back to school, adopt a child, or uncover an old passion from your past?
Maybe you’ve been holding out because you’re waiting for God to open wide a door.
Today just might be the day to seriously pray about taking the first step toward making your dream a reality. Write the first word, start studying for your GRE’s, make a phone call, or dust off the piano.
Still your soul in the peace of the Lord, but realize that if you do nothing forever, the door might never open. God often waits for us to take the first step before he pulls back the water.
God often waits for us to take the first step before he pulls back the water. #trust #risk #faith Share on XA Free Devotional for Deeper Peace:
Does the idea of slipping away to a beautiful place to recharge and refresh sound inviting? Space for Your Soul to Stretch is my free online devotional to help you rest in God’s presence. You need only 12 minutes per day for this 8-day journey. Each day invites you to encounter God’s created world and spend time in his written Word. You will walk away from this journey replenished and refreshed each day. It is yours here.
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