Hi Ladies,
We've prayed through various aspects of persevering this past month, and these prayers will remain important until we see Christ face to face. But I thought that this prayer of Paul's from 2 Thessalonians would be a fitting way to keep applying it forward:
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Th. 3:16
Not only are peace and perseverance connected by alliteration (some of you love that!), but more importantly they are connected theologically. But I want you to see it for yourself…
We usually stick to the ESV translation for these meditations, but I want you to read this verse from the New Living Translation (NLT):
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Th. 3:16
Both of the highlighted differences are right implied in the first translation, but I love how the NLT emphasizes 1) the source and quality of the peace, and 2) the extent and application of the peace.
First, this peace is sourced in none other than the Lord of peace Himself - “Prince of peace!” (Is. 9:6), “God of peace” (5 times in the NT!). This is our Lord. And He now dwells in us by His Spirit. This is why He can - and will - give us peace. And not just any peace. His peace!
But let’s step back and ask, what really is peace?
Is it the absence of conflict?
All we need to do is look at Christ’s life to know that can’t be true.
So, what is it?
According to the Strong’s biblical usage, this kind of peace is “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.”
One word picture that captures this well is the calm in the eye of a storm. No matter what may be happening around us, our knowledge of God and all His graces to us - past, present, and future - allows us to live in confident assurance of His sovereign power, wisdom, goodness and love. This is no surfacy or short-lived peace, but a deep and abiding peace that perseveres because of who our God is.
Secondly, notice the extent and application of the peace: “at all times and in every situation.”
Paul doesn’t leave it at the broad extent of “all,” which is amazing enough! But He draws attention to the specific application of this peace: “in every situation”:
When your husband misunderstands you. (Again)
When your child hurts you. (Again)
When your friend betrays you. (Again)
When your bank account is low. (Again)
When your car breaks down. (Again)
When you get a cancer diagnosis. (Again)
When your "perfect" plans fail. (Again)
When the desires of your heart remain unfulfilled. (Again)
Every, single situation.
Every time.
His peace is available and sufficient for each one.
We cannot have this peace apart from Him, because it is sourced in the Lord of peace Himself. But if He is in us, we have all we need by faith to trust Him to provide it for all, and every, situation. And then we can walk, even through the storms, with perfect peace. Persevering peace.
Let’s pray for one another this week, that the Lord of peace Himself would give each of us His peace at all times and in every situation. And let's also seek to be channels of this peace to one another!
And as Paul concluded his prayer, may the Lord be with each one of you, dear ladies. ❤️🙏🏼
