Peace

I have shared over the last few months (maybe longer than that in looking over my past blogs) how restless and anxious I have been about so many things over which I have such little control. I believe I am learning to trust God in these situations, but I still struggle at times with letting go. God has sent me frequent reminders that He is in control, through words from friends, sermons, or something I have read. SO, I would like to share this with you, most of which came from Elizabeth Elliot, whom I have quoted before.

As Jesus prepared His disciples for his death, He COMMANDED them to be at peace. His parting gift was “peace such as the world can never give…Set your troubled hearts at rest and banish your fears…the world must be shown that I love the Father, and do exactly as he commands.” (Jn.14:27) Christ proved that “there is such a thing as obedient faith, faith which is not dependent on receiving benefits only. Jesus had to show the world that He loved the Father and would, no matter what happened, do what He said.”

Elizabeth Elliot says there are “things that have transfigured my own thinking, things learned very slowly, very imperfectly, and over many years.

Suffering was indispensable for the world’s salvation.

There was no other way but the cross.

The servant is no greater than his Lord.

If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him.

Shall we not follow the Master in suffering as in everything else, that the world may be shown that we love the Father and will do just what He says? The world does not want to be told. The world must be shown—shown by the very guts of faith.”

Does our faith rest on having prayers answered as we think they should be answered, or does it rest on that mighty love that went down into death for us? We can’t really tell where it rests, until we’re in real trouble. His will alone is our peace (Dante).

‘True, He died on the cross in weakness, but He lives by the power of God; and we who share His weakness shall by the power of God live with Him in your service’ (2 Cor. 13:4).

We in our miseries may share His weakness, and therefore live with Him in the service of others. All that is given is meant to be poured forth. The flower pours forth its sweetness, the tree its blossom and fruit, its powers of purification, its shade, its wood. In the words of Ugo Basso, ‘Measure thy life by loss and not by gain; not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth, for love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice, and he that suffereth most hath most to give.’

Those who speak most deeply to our hearts in times of trouble are invariably those who have suffered. They have much to give. We recognize its authenticity and willingly receive it. ‘He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed’ (Prov. 11:25). So the cycle continues—love’s sacrifice, then the fruit of that sacrifice in blessing others, and that blessing rebounding to the refreshment of the one who sacrifice. ‘If a man will let himself be lost for my sake, that man is safe’ (Lk 9:24).

We are not often called to great sacrifice, but daily we are presented with the chance to make small ones—a chance to make someone cheerful, a chance to do some small thing to make someone comfortable or contented, a chance to lay down our petty preferences or cherished plans. This probably requires us to relinquish something—our own convenience or comfort, our own free evening, our warm fireside, or even our habitual shyness or reserve or pride. My liberty must be curtailed, bound down, ignored (oh, how the world hates this sort of thing! How our own sinful natures hate it!)—for the sake of the liberation of others.

‘Every day we experience something of the death of Jesus, so that we may also show the power of the life of Jesus in these bodies of ours’ (2 Cor. 4:10, JBP).”

I have no trouble accepting other commands that Christ has given, so why should it be so difficult for me to receive His peace? It not an option. If I am truly His child, I MUST be at peace! He commands it.