The serenity of the lakeside cabin called my name.
My husband had secured a last-minute reservation at one of our favorite getaways. With how busy life had been lately, it seemed like the perfect time to sneak off to this peaceful place.
Settling in after the long drive, I grabbed my coffee and headed out to the large front porch to gaze at the lake. I longed to let the expanse of nature draw me into a time of prayer with God. When from the thick trees, the sounds of a power saw cut through the quiet. So much for the peace I wanted.
I love getting away from it all, especially when everything in life hits at once. I want nothing more than to find a place to meet with God and invite his peace into my heart. But “getting away from it all” isn’t always easy to do.
This particular weekend vacay gave me an unwanted reality check. Things happen that disrupt our ability to find peace, even in the most peaceful places. It also raised an important question.
Is it possible to experience life-changing peace, wherever we happen to be?
The Amazing Truth About Peace
It’s nice to be able to set aside distractions and all the responsibilities of daily life and just be in the moment. To be in God’s presence. When we strip away what’s pulling us, it’s easier to sense God with us.
Maybe that’s why we feel God’s peace in a deeper way when we’re at the beach or in a cabin at the lake. There’s something about the sounds of nature that help us connect with our Heavenly Father. In his creation, we see signs of him everywhere.
I like stealing a few minutes to sit in the backyard and listen to birds chirping and wind rustling the leaves. But even a few minutes of quiet time at home can be a challenge for us.
I’ve been known to mimic those moments with apps on my phone, playing sounds of rain falling, waves crashing, and birds singing. And that’s not a bad thing, but we should be able to experience peace the same way, wherever we are. Because peace is not found in a place, but in the person of Jesus.
Last month I shared a post about my relentless pursuit of peace here on the blog. When I re-shared that story with you, I had an a-ha moment that shifted my understanding of peace. You see, I’ve gotten this whole peace thing backwards. I’ve been seeking peace so I can spend time with God, when instead I need to seek God so I can experience peace.
That simple change in my thoughts is proving to be life-changing.
How to Discover Peace, Wherever You Are
So now that we know peace is found in the person of Jesus Christ…
And now that we know we need to seek God to experience lasting peace…
How do we stay at peace, wherever we are? How do we sense God’s peace whether we’re at the lake or sitting next to a hospital bed? Whether we’re at the beach or carrying a minivan full of kids? Whether we’re sitting in our favorite coffee shop or driving our aging parent to a doctor’s appointment?
We stay at peace by staying close to Jesus, and we do that by talking to him all throughout the day.
The more I talk to God in my day, the more I feel his presence and peace. It’s undeniable. So when that unwanted phone call comes or my heart starts to race from anxious thoughts, I can rest in the truth that his peace is more powerful than any circumstance I may face. And you can too.
(Of course, we can still take those opportunities to find pockets of quiet time in peaceful places whenever we get the chance!)
Let’s accept Jesus’ gift of peace today with open arms, hearts, and minds. Let’s rely on its power by staying close to our loving Father. We may not be lounging at the beach or the lake, but we have something even better in our midst right now. The peace of Jesus is everywhere we are, ready to be discovered.
