Apr 18, 2026 – Peace
Fiumicino Beach, Italy
Power – I love Joyce’s title today: “Peace beyond Understanding.” Once you experience that, you know it’s possible to be had again, but you have to seek it and submit to God’s ways. It makes me think of the first breakup we experience. The emotions are so new and we think we will never survive it, but we do. It’s up to us to log the healing process and not totally fall apart the next time (and potentially the next). Peace can escape us if we don’t remember that it’s ours for the taking.
“And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Joyce warns, “Don’t be the kind of Christian who is up emotionally when you getting your way and down when you’re not; [anyone been around a toddler lately who has perfected the whining technique??] up when you receive the blessing you’ve been praying for and down when God hasn’t brought it into your life yet? Accept God’s peace, which is beyond understanding, and be content regardless of your earthly lot.’ Learn to think, Even if I don’t get my way, I will be happy; I will not let circumstances control my moods…. you have God’s peace.”
Simpson’s quotes scripture and describes what we can feel like when we have God’s peace, “’They shall mount us with wings as eagles,’ [Isaiah 40:31] is God’s preliminary; for the next promise is, ‘They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.’ Hours of holy exultation are necessary for hours of patient plodding, waiting and working. Nature has its springs, and so has grace. Let us rejoice in the Lord evermore, and again we say, rejoice.” This is an inciteful point that we don’t always think of: “Human nature could not stand perpetual excitement, even of a happy kind, and God often rests in His love.”
This makes me think of the excitement of a new relationship. Couples eventually move through the emotions and hormones of the early days and settle into a relationship that is more sustainable long term. It’s important to remember and recapture those early feelings at times, but we can’t successfully live there. Simpson offers, “Let us live as self-unconsciously as possible, filling up each moment with faithful service, and trusting Him to stir the springs at His will, and as we go on in faithful service we shall hear, again and again, His glad whisper: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’”
Utmost – “God called unto him….And he said, Here I am.” Exodus 3:4 Chambers points out, “When God speaks, many of us are like men in a fog, we give no answer. Moses’ reply revealed that he was somewhere. Readiness means a right relationship to God and a knowledge of where we are at present.” God offers peace, but do we hear Him and receive it? Chambers continues, “We are so busy telling God where we would like to go…. Readiness for God means that we are ready to do the tiniest little thing or the great big thing, it makes no difference. We have no choice in what we want to do; whatever God’s programme may be we are there, ready…. Jesus Christ expects to do with us as His Father did with Him. He can put is where He likes, in pleasant duties or in mean* duties, because the union is that of the Father and Himself. ‘That they may be one, even as We are one.’”
“*mean: as used here, something or someone ordinary, common, low, or ignoble, rather than cruel or spiteful.”
Streams – Psalm 37: 5 – “And he shall bring it to pass.” I can so relate to Cowman’s sentiments (through C.H.P) in the first sentence of the devotion: “I once thought that after I prayed that it was my duty to do everything that I could do to bring the answer to pass.” That way doesn’t bring much peace. Continuing, “He taught me a better way, and showed that my self-effort always hindered His working, and that when I prayed and definitely believed Him for anything, He wanted me to wait in the spirit of praise, and only do what He bade me. It seems so unsafe to just sit still, and do nothing but trust the Lord; and the temptation to take the battle into our own hands is often tremendous.
This makes me think of when I’ve been in an emotional/situational upset with a loved one. The tendency at times is to force communication and resolution, but sometimes that ends up with worse turmoil. We have to be willing to allow time (and God) to make us ready to work through things more logically. The devotion continues with this relatable example, “We all know how impossible it is to rescue a drowning man [again I find myself thinking of whiny toddlers] who tries to help his rescuer, [this makes me think waaay back to lifeguard training when I was a teenager] and it is equally impossible for the Lord to fight our battles for us when we insiste upon trying to fight them ourselves. It is not that He will not, but He cannot. Our interference hinders His working.”
I have definitely experienced this. I even remember writing in my journal one time about someone who wasn’t changing as I would have them change [control issues] and I felt led to write, “You are in My way of working with them.” J. H. M takes over here and offers, “It takes God time to answer prayer. We often fail to give God a chance in this respect…. we sow, and till, and wait, and trust, until all God’s purpose has been wrought out.”
Rooftop bar in Rome – peaceful view of the city that is bustling with people and activity far below.
