I recently read the story of a woman and her daughter who were in a rather traumatic car accident. The daughter was asleep in the passenger side which, as it turns out, is what saved her from greater injury. The emergency responders on the scene told the mother that had her daughter saw the car coming, she would have braced herself resulting in broken arms and other extremities. Praise God she was asleep!
That got me thinking, how often to do we do more damage to ourselves by bracing for impact? When we sense something difficult, hurtful, or damaging could be coming, how do we respond? Most of us either avoid it, stress about it, or try to change the outcome somehow by getting into the middle of it. With all of these options, we often make matters worse and cause more damage.
How does God say we should respond? Because His ways are not our ways, His approach is completely different. He tells us to be still, to trust, and even to wait. I don’t know about you, but these are NOT the typical reactions I have when I see trouble heading my way. If you’re like me, we want to run, to fight, and be the first to strike.
The daughter in the story was asleep so she didn’t have to fight her natural tendency to tense up and brace for impact. She was in a state of peace. That’s what God calls us to as well. He’s not asking for us to sleep through our lives, He is instructing us to be filled with His peace. Peace isn’t a state of ignorance and living with our heads in the sand. Peace comes when we are fully secure in the full armor of God which defends our heart, mind, and spirit. Peace comes from a deep sense of faith that, while the incident or situation may be hard, that God has got us in it. He is protecting us, fighting for us, and He is on the other side of it already. Faith produces peace.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
If we are busy bracing for impact, are we choosing faith in the One who created us and protects us? We can’t stand in faith if we are constantly worried, fearful, tense, and trying to fix everything. Faith produces peace. Peace is why God gave us His son. Peace is a gift from God’s heart to ours, we need only rest in it!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27