197 - Jesus brought us peace

 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

I wrote a verse a while back on how we can be thankful for peace from God - something we've needed a lot of during the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

But recently, during a time of prayer, I was struck by the fact that peace was brought for us with a price. 

Look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death..." (Matthew 26:38)

"And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)

Apparently, this can happen when someone is under extreme emotional stress. Because He knew what lay ahead of Him. 

"...My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?...” (Matthew 27:46)

The Son was separated from the Father. 

He experienced the worst pain and anguish possible - to be cut off from the God of peace and joy. 

He did it - so we would never be. He made a way to God - to the peace that surpasses all understanding.

He was forsaken so we could be chosen. 

He was in anguish so we could have peace.

196 - God never hurries

"God is never late and rarely early. He is always exactly right on time--His time."
Dillon Burroughs

Nearly two years later...guess who's back?

Life gets very busy and things get dropped. Thank goodness God is not like us.

I'm currently reading a devotional called 'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry' by John Mark Comer. Very good - and I only started it today!

In the study, it is pointed out how Jesus had a busy life, yet He was not in a hurry.

It made me think about how God never hurries- and how that can be both a challenge and a blessing.

We live in a fast paced world that's always hurrying. Instant coffee. Fast food. Car horns beeping the moment the light goes green. (And don't even think about getting in someone's way!)

What does it mean, then, to follow an unhurried God in an 'instant' world?

It teaches us trust and patience when we feel like we need to know the answer now! What will happen? Will I get that job? Will this date be successful? Will these test results be clear? Will my friend ever be saved?

God never gives us the answer ahead of time. Only in His time.

We can't twist His arm. All we can do is learn to walk in step with Him, lean on Him & say 'OK God. In your time. Help me trust you until then.'

God's unhurried nature is also a blessing.

He always has time for us.

In the study mentioned above, it is pointed out how Jesus stops to speak to the woman who was bleeding internally and who was healed when she touched His robe.

He didn't have to stop. She was healed and a girl was dying. He could've carried on walking.

But she didn't. He stopped. He spoke to her - she who had been an outcast for years - and He commended her faith. He declared her healed.

Even when we struggle to make time for God, He always makes time for us.

We can be thankful that His plan is unfolding at the right place. We can be thankful He doesn't hurry because He knows the right time for everything.

And we can be thankful that in the middle of a universe He holds in perfect balance, He wants to spend time with us. To draw near and speak to us. Amazing!