I looked up the definition of 'peace'..."freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility". I can barely type this out from laughing hysterically one moment and crying a very ugly cry the next. Laughing because our home experiences 'freedom from disturbance' only if no one is home and crying because I don't even think we experience 'quiet and tranquility' even while sleeping...seriously. I have commented many times lately that our home has no peace. I continually ask for prayer any chance I have and I certainly have not grown weary of asking the Lord for it myself. But I believe that I need to expound on what I mean.
There is a verse that appears in two separate chapters of Jeremiah that recently grabbed my attention in a whole new way. You see, the Lord has been teaching me a powerful truth over the last several years and just when I think I'm getting close to fleshing it out in a way that would be pleasing to Him, He grabs my attention yet again. What is this truth? It is the beauty of living a transparent life...no pretenses, no duplicity, only authenticity! For years I honestly believed that I was living a transparent life...only to have the Lord open my eyes to the lie I had been living and sadly, teaching my children to believe and live as well (that's a post all of it's own...and will come soon!)
So, back to this verse..."'Peace, peace' they say, when there is no peace...", Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11. In these chapters the Lord is preparing to unleash His wrath because of the wickedness that abounds among His people. They ignored their circumstances and tried to cover it up by shouting, "peace, peace", when in actuality there was no peace at all! So many of us are guilty of this very lie...I was for so long and I don't want to be ever again! There are people all around us that have yet to make their eternity secure in Jesus and they are in turmoil and chaos...lacking any sign of hope or peace. They look at those of us that call ourselves Christians, as we walk around with our plastic masks on trying our best to disguise our chaos, shouting, "peace, peace", all the while our bank accounts are overdrawn, our children are misbehaving, our marriages are struggling and we're fighting all manner of physical, mental and emotional sickness...no peace at all. No earthly peace, that is...here's the perspective that we're missing...
Jesus said in John 14:27, "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." One of the wonderful blessings of having a personal relationship with Jesus is the peace that passes all human understanding that only He can give (Philippians 4)! Do we have troubles? Yes! Do we have struggles? Yes! Do we have difficulties? Absolutely! However, we also have the powerful promise of Jesus Himself...this part is my absolute favorite!! Just two chapters over, in John 16:33, He gets real with us, I can hardly bare it..."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." Wow!! Such joy and yes, peace, in that one powerful verse! He is so honest...there is no pretense about Him...He tells us exactly what to expect. In this world we WILL have trouble, but IN HIM we have peace...real peace...not fake, not plastic!
So, if you peep inside the windows of the Chamblee home...and you're very welcome to do so, but you better bring your Windex if you expect to actually SEE inside...you will not see earthly peace...yet, but I refuse to stop asking;) You will see some siblings argue, you will see one of our sweet blessings struggle with sensory sensitivity disorder which causes a little turmoil and heartache most days, you will see toys, laundry and half empty bottles of soda lying around, you will see me...the mommy...send some very loud kiddos to their rooms and you will see our friends and others from the community stop by for some encouragement in the midst of it all.
But here is what you will NOT see...you will not see or hear us shouting, "Peace, peace" when there is no peace. You will see and hear us shouting, "We're having a hard day and chaos abounds, but we have peace like a river because our mighty Savior has overcome the world and filled us with His Spirit!" and all the while I will continue to daily ask the Lord for that earthly peace to be present in our home, knowing, believing and accepting that if it is His will He will grant it, if not...His grace is sufficient! As followers of Jesus, we do not need to pretend that our circumstances are perfect and peaceful...we need to proclaim that our God is perfect and peaceful in the midst of our circumstances.
