Speak Peace – Devotion 269 – SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Our world can feel in such turmoil and chaos. We see the display of hatred splattered over our nightly news. We sense the tension as we try to go about our daily lives in the middle of a pandemic. It feels anything but peaceful. This may be the last thing we feel or experience – peace. Yet, we are taught differently. We may even know there is a possibility of something different. But we may not know how to get there. God does.

We see over and over where God speaks peace over his people. They are not often obedient. They are often in distress (sometimes or often caused by their own stubbornness). They go the wrong way and must be brought back. And yet, God brings peace in the middle of the chaos. The Psalmist in today’s focus scripture was trying to capture this. He was straining to hear what God was speaking – as God spoke peace over his people. There was a desire for his steadfast love and salvation from the turmoil. They longed for his direction – a direction that meant peace and steadfast love. I find myself longing for the same thing.

Jesus spoke peace over many painful and scary situations. People were baffled over the power he had to cut through the madness with peace – a peace which sent their heads spinning. He calmed storms and raging seas – “Peace! Be Still!” he exclaimed. He brought peace to those who were tormented by demons. He brought peace to those who were frightened. He brought peace to those who were searching and longing for something more.

I am reminded this peace is not dependent on me. Humans create chaos – God creates peace. This isn’t something I fix or do. This is something I give to God for him to repair. He is the ultimate creator and when he speaks, life happens. I seek peace by seeking God. He speaks peace out of his steadfast love. I just want to be a conduit of his peace.

May his peace wash over us today. May he speak peace in our fears. May God create peace in our hearts. May we sense his love. May we be changed.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 85:7-9

⁷Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

⁸Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people,
    to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
⁹Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.