The Source of Peace

When I conducted a search for the “10 most stressful events” on the internet, the first two sources listed moving as #7.[1] I remember learning from a sociology class at West Point that moving was a big stressor.  It does make sense.  Moving is largely comprised of change, and the transitions change demand can be cortisol-producing. Imagine driving a packed 26-foot U-Haul truck from Colorado to Virginia and encountering drivers who seem clueless that one cannot slam on the brakes and immediately stop a fully-loaded truck! My physics professors would be proud of that observation. (May the woman who impatiently darted in front of me in Tennessee please learn that lesson). I’m also pretty sure my wife more than maxed her stress points trying to follow me in the Subaru as I wove between trucks on I-40. Despite all the miles, we made it accident-free and in pretty good shape. No animals were harmed, only one old piece of furniture was damaged, and, thanks to Covid, we had no problems finding hotel rooms.  ​

​Meditation
2 Thessalonians 3:16--Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
 
Major sources of tension are loss of a loved one, divorce, getting married, starting a new job, workplace conflict, financial problems, illness, retirement etc. Life is guaranteed to produce stress.  So what is the antidote?  
            
In his short missive to the church in Thessalonica, Paul acknowledged that the believers suffered from people afflicting them, from false doctrine and from irresponsible slackers.  Yet notice how he ended his letter.  He let them know that the Lord was the basis of their peace—always and for everything.  How encouraging is that!  
            
The source of peace comes from the Author of peace. God is unstressed. Within His omnipotent Being is a reservoir of calm.  From His omniscient understanding He extends to us the supernatural ability to chill, to relax, to refuse to be undone by life’s incessant storms.  We don’t have to be frustrated, anxious or perturbed because of what swirls around us.  We just need to take our eyes off the traffic (figuratively) and look to Him (in faith).  
This was what Paul wanted his friends to know.  His prayer was that they would have the peace only God can give.  When we remember the Lord is with us we are absolutely fine.  Yes, there is pain, there is hardship and suffering, but they will all go away.  Peace overcomes the past and is presently obtained by future-confirmation. “Peace be with you.” Something to think about . . . in reveration!
              
Inspiration
He who has received the peace of Christ makes peace for others . . . To have peace is to be rich. To be a maker of peace is to be a dispenser of the best that even heaven has to give to men.—J.R. Miller in The Master’s Blesseds
 
©2021 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the "Click here to receive weekly devotionals" box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 


[1]https://thriveglobal.com/stories/10-most-stressful-life-events/;
​https://kerryon.wordpress.com/2020/01/19/top-10-most-stressful-life-events-de-stress-and-kerry-on/