Peace is Default

Peace

Is peace the absence of things such as worry, anxiousness, or fear? Do we give up the right to understand in order to gain understanding?

When I have peace does that mean I have no feelings around what I was worried about? If I am searching for understanding, do I need to remind myself that God has it?

In this journey, I have come to the conclusion that peace is not the absence of something but an additive to something. It is the makings of a whole person that encompasses an element that we may forget. It is part of the default program that was provided by the Holy Spirit during the acceptance of Christ, not an exclusion. We get the whole thing on day one, it’s just we hold onto everything else on day 2 that we should have let go.

I remember a bumper sticker that read “No God, No Peace” and “Know God, Know Peace”. Yes, it was clever and probably helped it sell a lot of stickers, but does that help with recognizing the experience? Not really in my opinion.

Is it Real?

About a year ago I had a series of events take place where I believe that God wanted to reveal something to me. What does peace look like and how is it experienced? I believe that I had encounters of it but then really took notice during the following event.

I was in a head-on auto accident and during the impact, I realized that everything was not only in slow motion but I was not worried about it. Amazingly I felt the presence of God at that moment greater than any other experience in my life. After the impact, I did have the adrenalin rush but did not have a worry about what just happened. I am not saying I was not concerned about the other drivers, nor was I not remorseful of the experience, just that an overwhelming sense of peace was present. Over the next series of weeks, my mind tried to make up things to change that, but I recognized this peace was not leaving.

What did it feel like? The worry was gone, any butterflies or stomach discomfort was removed, and I could relax.

How is that different from my day-to-day job? Well I had left after 6 years to take a break because of the negative culture all the time? My wife, children, and friends all noticed.

I began to realize during that 6 years that I was not the person I started out to be, only becoming someone I did not want to be.

The Season

I believe that I am not the only one in this place. Some probably experience it for a short while but the nature of who they are does not allow it to stick around. I can honestly say that there were many times in my life that this may have happened, but my character could not handle it, and it went into hibernation again.

What’s different now? Well for one I believe I slowed down enough to pay attention. Ever been on a road trip but did not take the time to pull off and look at stuff? I have, and the only thing that’s remembered is the drive, boring.

Peace is not the absence of disruption, it’s the spiritual space that provides processing fuel for those disruptions, allowing great decisions to be made. It’s the ability to hope when the circumstances don’t offer much assistance. It can’t be explained, as well as being experienced, but trying is what makes it fun.

I would encourage you to know it’s already there. When you recognize it hold on, we only feel what we give permission.