” You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).
Isaiah 26:3 is a passage of scripture that I have been meditating on for quite sometime. The older I get, the more I desire to have peace in my life. When I reflect on the years of my life, most of it has been years of chaos, trauma, and instability. Since I had grown accustomed to my life being in disarray, I didn’t know that I could live a life of peace. So, I believed that I was to be this person who had to continuously fight her way through life. A few years ago, I expressed to my mentor that I expected my life to be chaotic at a certain time of the year every year. She let me know that if that was my expectation, then that’s exactly what I would receive. And, my mentor was right! I had to learn to shift my mindset and align my expectations according to what God desired for me.
Thankfully, as I have been growing deeper in my relationship with Jesus, I desire more of His peace in my life. According to Dictionary.com, peace means “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.” 2023 is the year that I became more intentional about living a life of peace. A few months ago, I had an encounter with a family member that would have set me on a course of depression. However, as this family member ripped into me with their hurtful words and actions, I chose not to respond to them with the same energy. To be honest, I was so shocked that I had remained so calm, while they acted a fool. God revealed to me that my calmness was me experiencing peace in Him. This level of peace scared me because I had never experienced it before, normally I would have given the person back the same energy they gave me. However, I chose not to allow what I was experiencing to move me from the tranquil state I was in. I had another encounter with the same family member, and their words pierced me like knives and I went off on them and cried because I was so hurt. I became upset with myself because I had decided to engage in a conversation that disturbed my peace. After the conversation ended, I took sometime to gather myself and share my heart with God. While praying, I declared that I LIVE A LIFE OF PEACE!
I shared this declaration with my mentor and some closer sisters and they could hear the seriousness in my voice. I was done with allowing people and circumstances to rob me of my peace. Life is always going to be happening and people are always going to be peopling. So, we can’t stop life from happening, but we can decide on how we will respond to people and life circumstances. I have come to a point in my life where my peace is non-negotiable and you should too! We don’t have to take on the issues of others, and we don’t have to carry the world on our shoulders (Can I get an AMEN?). With this newfound perspective on peace, I realize that if I am giving my energy and time to negativity, my focus is off from Jesus, who is the one to keep me at perfect peace when my mind is on Him. I was also setting myself up for emotional turmoil and I refuse to be depressed and have anxiety concerning people and things that are beyond my control.
So, to start living a life of peace, Jesus instructed me to do a few things and I encourage you to get before Him and ask Him what He wants you to do, so that you may rest in His peace!
- Believe that having peace is your birthright as a child of God!
- Be non-negotiable about living a life of peace
- Set boundaries with people
- Be willing to walk away from people and spaces that disturb my peace.
- You don’t have to stay in toxic relationships. You may have to cut off all communication or create distance. Sometimes you may need to find a new job, church, or friends. Sadly, you may have to disconnect from some family members. And sometimes, God will have you relocate to another city, state, or country. No matter what God instructs you to do, be committed to following His instructions, because He knows what’s best for you.
Remember your peace is non-negotiable and you have to do whatever it takes to maintain it! You deserve to live a life of peace, so go live it!