Our Peace in His Presence

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Since we are fenced, the dogs can run freely. Some of them like to be out in front of me. Some cast back and forth across the field, and if not for the fence, would soon be out of sight. But some are always found walking closely by my side.

As I contemplated how the dogs and I walk together, I thought about how I walk with God. Do I like to walk ahead of Him, seeking my own path, only running back to Him when I find myself in trouble?

Do I cast about in the field of life, checking out all the exciting things it offers, things which can pull me further away from my walk with Him until I can no longer hear His voice on the horizon of my mind? Or do I choose to walk closely beside Him each day?

In the Old Testament, those who walked with God did so by faith, looking forward to the coming of the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ. Today, we walk with God through the guidance of His Holy Spirit, who resides in all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Messiah whom God foretold at the beginning of time in the Garden after Adam and Eve sinned. At that point, their walk with God was forever changed.

Walking closely with God by remembering and dwelling on the truth of His Word and by the power of His Holy Spirit keeps us on the right path for life. It protects, comforts, and directs us in the best way to go. It also opens our eyes more each day as God reveals who He is and how much He loves us.

What’s your walk like? Out front, doing your own thing? Casting about, looking for something you think will be a little more exciting? Or calmly and obediently, like Enoch, walking by God’s side, feeling His approval day by day, until He takes us away to dwell with Him forever (Genesis 5:22, 24).

There’s nothing better than having the right fit of clothing for specific occasions.

It could mean greater confidence during a job interview by wearing more professional attire. Or experiencing the moment when the bride arrives at the back of the church in her perfectly fitted wedding dress. On the other hand, ill-fitting clothing that is too tight for comfort at an event or too loose for agility on the job can be frustrating. The right fit matters.

When David was prepped for his wartime debut, King Saul dressed him in the best armor available. Being a young man and untrained in battle, Saul’s armor was not the right fit for David (1 Samuel 17:39). Instead, David showed up in battle dressed in his shepherd’s clothing with a staff, sling, and five smooth stones. He had the right fit because his confidence was in the “Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”

What does the right fit look like for Christian writers today? Is it setting up a social media platform, expecting thousands to follow within a few months? Or writing a profound non-fiction book that impacts the global community? Perhaps it is producing a heartfelt romance screenplay that transforms and influences how true love looks. All are possibilities but not necessarily probabilities.

The right fit for each of us is centered on God’s purposes and plans, not ours. David’s right fit didn’t happen in the moment or overnight. It came from being a lowly shepherd protecting his sheep and, more importantly, establishing the foundation of his relationship with God. His confidence was impacted by overcoming the lion and the bear, yet he credited God’s deliverance for his success.

Our success is impacted by the right fit—right timing, right season, right calling of God. What we are doing or not doing in the present impacts our future spiritual battles. We can start today with the right fit by seeking God’s agenda over ours. We can also seek Him with all our hearts through prayer, focused Bible studies, and fellowship with other believers.

The right fit to live out our mission is available to all who call on God.

My heart pounded. I felt as if a crushing weight had descended upon my chest. I couldn’t breathe, and I panicked. My thoughts raced. Was I going to die? Would I see Jesus? What would my husband do? Then, a more sinister voice whispered, “You’re getting what you deserve!”

I choked and desperately prayed. “Lord, help me. Please!”

The pressure in my chest eased. I gasped for breath. This was the first time I experienced a spiritual and physical anxiety attack. At the time, I had no idea what it was. I had never heard of such a thing. It wasn’t until later that I fully understood. I was dealing with a lot, including unresolved guilt. But when my friend and I went through a study on the Holy Spirit, she rightfully pointed out the actual cause: my lack of peace.

I had not learned what it means to be content in all circumstances. Honestly, I am still not great at it. I still struggle with trusting God when things go awry. Whether it is unexpected costs, debilitating illness, or devastating loss, circumstances can pull me away from peace. But when the thorns and thistles of this life threaten my faith, I remember to look to the author and perfecter of my faith.

True peace comes from Jesus, the Prince of Peace (John 16:33). If my eyes and my attention are on glorifying Him, I will experience peace. If I trust Him despite the circumstances, I will experience peace. And if I surrender my worries and anxieties to Him, I will be at peace.

These words in John remind us that turning to the Prince of Peace is the most important thing we can do in life. Instead of letting the problems of this life turn us away from Him, we can let them turn us toward Him.

Give Jesus whatever you need to ease your anxiety. Listen to His voice rather than the voice of the evil one. Find your peace from the Prince. 

I once happened upon a situation where a person was extremely angry with their dogs. They yelled and hollered, then chased after them in a threatening manner. They were trying to get the animals to move from one area to another. The dogs were terrified and had scattered in different directions, desperately trying to flee from the bully’s path.

One of the frightened creatures, spotting me, ran to my side and huddled against my leg. Having seen where their owner wanted them to go, I spoke quietly to the little canine and began walking toward the designated area. The pup followed. As I approached the assigned area, I called the other dogs over and spoke to them in a positive voice. All the dogs responded and were soon safely out of the bully’s way.

Fear kept these dogs from hearing their owner’s loud, angry voice. Dogs respond to tone and attitude more than words. When the right tone and attitude were introduced, their ears were alert, and they could listen and obey.

Just as this person’s dogs scattered and ran in fear, our Enemy, known in the Word as Satan or the Devil, also seeks to put us on the run by bullying us with fear tactics. Satan wants us to doubt God and His truth (1 Peter 5:8-9). He wants us to rebel against God, just as he did. He seeks to sow doubt in our lives regarding our faith, often when we are most vulnerable.

When sickness, sorrow, economic crisis, natural disasters, relational difficulties, and the like assault us, the Enemy of our souls roars in with his lies, seeking to steal the truth from our hearts. He desires to crush our view of God, bombarding us with doubts and fears concerning our situation. Amidst his rampage and our resultant fear, it becomes hard for us to hear our Lord’s calm voice. He seeks to remind us of His ability to use all things for our good and grant us strength and wisdom to endure amidst them.

Let us therefore learn to recognize the Enemy and his tactics by studying the Word and committing it to heart. Then, on the day of attack, amidst the lion’s roaring, we can tune our ear to God’s still quiet voice of assurance and hope. He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine through His power at work within us.

Life isn’t fair! I don’t know how often I have said these words aloud in exasperation or quietly to myself. I know I shouldn’t envy or covet, but I tend to push the boundaries.

When I was younger, my mother and I went to town. I looked out the car window and saw a pickup truck beside us pulling a beautiful, brand-new fishing boat. I remember saying, “Wow, I want that boat.”

My mother gave me a condensed version of the meaning of the commandment “Thou shalt not covet.” She said, “You’re not supposed to say it like that. You’re supposed to say, “Wow, I’d like to have a boat like that.”

I have never forgotten the quick little lesson she gave me that day. Scripture admonishes us to free ourselves from the spirit of covetousness, envy, and discontent. Not to let things become our first love. We get a false sense of security when we obtain things like others have. We feel left behind if we do not accumulate them. This produces discontentment, which is never satisfied and makes life seem unfair.

We have security in God because He gives life meaning (Hebrews 13:5). Things depreciate and lose their value. When we live for Jesus, we have everything. The Bible tells us we are joint heirs with Him. We have access to the riches of heaven. We are children of the King, and He owns all the wealth of this world. We will walk on streets of gold, own a mansion, and join Him one day for the great marriage supper of the Lamb. This is true wealth, spiritual wealth, that surpasses all material riches.

God created a space within us that only He can fill, so His image would merge with ours. This purpose is a sure and eternal reward. Earthly things we covet are fleeting. They do not bring lasting satisfaction. Only the love and blessings of Jesus can fill the void in our hearts and lead to contentment.

To conquer the temptation of coveting transient things of this world, let Jesus satisfy your heart with the abundant blessings He freely gives.