WHY IS PEACE SUCH AN ELUSIVE COMMODITY FOR ME?

SCRIPTURE:
Lord, grant us peace; for all we have and are has come from You.  
(Isaiah 26:12)

MEDITATION:
If you asked people what they desire most in life, 
most of them would say, “Peace”.
Some folks have wealth, but peace is absent.
Others have fame, but cannot find rest.
Many struggle to find peace in the midst of their daily living.
As dangers in the world increase, 
peace becomes an even more valuable commodity.

It wasn’t that many years ago 
that children were delighted to see great ships come in.
Today, kids are lackadaisical about helicopters and jet planes.
Some used to marvel at the telegraph, but in today’s world 
the far greater miracle of television is taken for granted.

In previous years 
many diseases were terminal and termed hopelessly incurable.
Modern science has developed drugs 
that can effectively treat diseases that once meant certain death.
Needless to say, much has been accomplished over the years.
But with all the progress, 
the basic problem of the human race is yet to be solved.
No matter how much has been developed, 
people still have difficulty living together with peace and tranquility.

One of the reasons we struggle with peace 
is that we try to take credit for what God has given us.
Deep within our soul, we probably know that God gave us our blessings, 
but when we try to take credit for them, the guilt creates stress for us.
A guilty person has difficulty being able to rest.

When we claim ownership of what God has given us, 
then we have fears of losing them.
However, when we acknowledge our gifts are from God, 
then we are more prepared to accept the fact that He might take them away.
When we have a close relationship with Him, 
we have confidence that if He does take them away, 
it will be beneficial for us (even if we don’t see the benefits immediately).

When we readily admit that God has made us who we are, 
we can be less critical and hard on ourselves.
As long as we continue wishing that we were someone else, 
we will struggle to find peace.

One of the deterrents to finding peace 
is a desire to “fix what God has broken”.
In other words, there are many who have determined 
to seek peace and happiness on their own, 
instead of seeking God first and waiting on His direction.
Consequently, there are many failed marriages, and broken relationships.

Rather than praying for and waiting for the one God knows is best for us, 
some decide they will find their own soulmate 
based on a list of qualifications they have created on their own.
Impatience can also cause peace to be elusive for many,
especially when they refuse to wait on the Lord.

ACTION:
Are you struggling to find peace in your life?
Are your own desires causing you to leave God out 
as you pursue the things you think will bring you peace and happiness?

When you look at the divorce rate in the America, 
isn’t it obvious that those who are pursuing a soulmate 
based on their own criteria instead of God’s, is a recipe for failure?

Do you try to take credit for who you are and all you have, 
or do you acknowledge that God has made you and given you what you have?
Try making God first in your life and depend on Him to fulfill your desires.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, no matter who I am, You have made me. As a result, 
I choose to accept myself as being wonderfully made by You. If I have 
exceptional talents, it is because You have given them to me. Everything 
good that I have is a gift from You. Thank You, God, for all that I am and 
all that I have. Help me to develop a patience that will wait on You for 
Your blessings, rather than trying to create my own and forfeiting peace 
in the process. Help me to set aside any egotistical pride and be thankful 
for all that You have provided. Show me how to increase my relationship 
with You so that I can have a greater portion of peace in my life.”