Peace for Today

Here we are, at the beginning of 2025, a new year and a new word from the Lord. I have to say, I’ve been very intentional over many years to diligently ask the Lord for a word/verse/ or phrase for each new year. I think it’s important to want to hear what the Lord has to speak over you every year; there’s always something beautiful in that.

I always think it’s pretty comical though when the Lord gives me my word because it’s usually the opposite of how my life is seemingly going at that present moment. And let me tell you, I laughed hard when I received my word for 2025. The word is Peace. Now let me give you a little picture of where my life was at when he spoke that to me. We were in the busiest month of the year, December, full of all the hustle and bustle of all things holiday. My husband's health had been all over the place, then we found out his truck needed a new transmission plus a few extra things, which was a HEFTY bill mind you, and not to mention right before Christmas. We were in the throes of getting a puppy (she’s the cutest, and most demanding little Dalmatian puppers), and I was struggling with feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed with everything happening, and being on the go a lot. Then to top it off, we received news that our brother-in-law’s health is quickly diminishing and we don’t know how much time we have left with him. And the Lord just goes and gives me the word PEACE…okay cool cool cool, Lord. Love that.

Crazy right? Yeah, I know. But here’s how the Lord kept trying to tell me until my head and heart finally clicked. Around mid-December when we found out about Alan’s truck and how much it was going to be, I was driving to my husband's parents to drop off a Christmas card to them. And I was praying on the way back just asking the lord for provision and peace. To backtrack. It had been raining a bit that day off and on, well, no sooner did I ask for peace, I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a giant rainbow behind me, and when I said I instantly felt peace, I did. And I had a little chuckle with the Lord because we all know that a rainbow signifies a promise from the Lord. Fast forward to the week of Christmas, Alan’s truck is fixed and the payment is looming over us; we receive a text from a friend who knew the situation and said they wanted to loan us the money so we didn’t have to stress over it. Can I tell ya'll how absolutely humbling that is, but how much of a blessing that was for us?! And you know what it brought? Peace. Then the next day, Sunday, I'm driving to church for practice early that morning. It was cooler outside, and there was a frost-like dew on the ground, I was listening to a version of O Come O Come Emmanuel that we were going to be singing that morning. And I happened to glance over at the field next to me and I saw a lone baby deer, grazing in perfect peace as the rays of sun began to dance over the field. I instantly became emotional as the Holy Spirit sweetly spoke to me about how at peace that baby deer was because it knew its parents weren’t far away. It trusted it was safe and so it grazed with that understanding of being cared for. Just as the Father was doing for my husband and me. Again, things hadn’t fully clicked for me that the Lord was telling me my word was peace! Fast forward to after church on my way home, I was driving that same stretch and a field over, I saw that same baby deer, but this time grazing with its parents!! And naturally, because I’m sassy sometimes…ok ok most times, the Lord said “Is that confirmation enough for you ma’am?” Phew 😮‍💨 okaaaay I hear you loud and clear, Lord!

I know this is a longer blog, but stay with me! I’m wrapping things up.

So, when I looked up the biblical definition of what peace meant, I was surprised (but also not) by how much goes into that one word.

The word "peace" in the Bible has multiple meanings, including:

• Absence of conflict: The Bible uses the word "peace" to refer to the absence of war or chaos. 

• Right relationship: The Bible uses the word "peace" to refer to a right relationship with God, with Christ, or with other people. 

• Individual virtue: The Bible uses the word "peace" to refer to a state of tranquility or serenity. 

• Greeting formula: The Bible uses the word "peace" as part of a greeting formula. 

• Positive peace: The Hebrew word shalom is used in the Old Testament to refer to a positive peace that includes harmony, wholeness, health, and well-being. 

• Inseparable from justice: The Bible associates peace with justice, which points to sustainable relationships, connections with the earth, and the well-being of creation. 

• Reconciliation: The Greek word eirene is used in the New Testament to refer to reconciliation, such as when two friends come back together after a fight. 

Now that right there should tell you how important peace is to the Lord, there are so many different facets! How beautiful is that?! Peace isn’t just a “feeling” it’s a living word, and we can choose to walk in harmony with it, or not. So my question to you is, are you walking in peace? Are you truly living in peace? Take a moment to reflect as you read through all the things that Peace is, ask the Lord to reveal any areas where you may be lacking in that peace, and then ask the Holy Spirit how to guide you into that peace with whatever situation it may be for you.

Isaiah 26:3-4 says this: 3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. -NIV

So, here we are at the beginning of 2025. I challenge you to look for ways to walk in peace. I believe that peace walks hand in hand with trust & faith, and so without those two things, peace may come as a struggle. As I close, I pray that as you walk into this new year, your faith in Jesus deepens, that your trust goes beyond the borders you've become accustomed to, and that peace follows you gracefully into the rest of the year.

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