Peace is something that we often seem to believe is thrust upon us, not necessarily a treasure of our own initiation…perhaps something, in the context of well-being, which miraculously comes over us. The Psalmist, however, gives a glimpse of cause and effect at work here as he adds this brief phrase which follows the promise of peace… because they trust in you. Certainly the peace of Christ transforms our lives and enables us to overcome doubt and fear, but at some point, the believer must trust that God will honor God’s promises and be present in the midst of whatever is going on in his or her life.
The incarnation of Christ reminds us that God can be trusted. From God’s covenant with Abraham, to the affirmation of that covenant in establishing David’s throne, to the prophetic words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah and others, to the fulfillment of that covenant in the birth of Jesus, God has been proven trustworthy again and again. Peace that you and I experience in our hearts comes because we believe that God can be trusted, even when, as we noted with Abraham last week, against all hope, we still believe.
Peace in any context ultimately is a bi-product of trust. The Psalmist echoes this thought in Psalm 9:10 as he writes, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Perhaps the old adage of this season does still ring true, “Wise men and women still seek Him.”
Prayer: Faithful God, may we seek and trust you during these days, and amidst the rush and hurry, truly know your peace. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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