Peace at Home: Is It Possible?

Photo: R.A. Navarrete

"My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest" (Isaiah 32:18). When the Lord gave me this verse the other night, it was obviously what I needed because I have not been feeling very peaceful lately. If you are a busy mom like me, you understand that peace on earth through the coming of Christ is far from your current December calendar, which has left little room for peaceful anything. And the more you have on your calendar, the more stressed you get. And the more stressed you get, the more irritable you become. And the more irritable you become, the more you yell at your kids and maybe even at your husband. Sometimes you wonder is peace possible in my home and within my heart? If I'm not at peace within my heart, then how can I exude peacefulness in my home and family?

Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. So since I am filled with the Holy Spirit, then there should be some peaceful fruit in my life. As I thought about the Scripture from Isaiah 32:18, it is clear that God gives the peace, the security, and the rest. It is basically a promise: "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." The promise comes from God and is kept by God--for those of us who are His people. He gave the promise to His people, and He always keeps His promises to His people! 

He promises to help us live in a peaceful dwelling place. So if I am seeking peace within myself, that is the wrong place to look. And if I am seeking peace from any other human, that is the wrong place to look. And if I am seeking peace from a circumstance, that will also fail to provide the peace I seek. God is the only Source and Provider of a peaceful dwelling place. 

He promises to give us a secure home. This security cannot come from anything/anyone other than God Himself. We as women want security, and we hate our insecurities. But maybe we have been seeking security everywhere else except in the arms of Jesus. No wonder we have been disappointed when all along God keeps calling us to reach out to Him instead of grasping at everything else around us. 

He promises to give us undisturbed places of rest. Doesn't that sound amazing?--undisturbed rest? Obviously we cannot get undisturbed rest apart from God. Even if we are resting, we wrestle with our own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We can be honest with God--He can take our raw and honest cries. As long as we hold onto everything, we cannot rest. The only place to find rest is to surrender our worries, illnesses, shortcomings, tragedies, and struggles to our Heavenly Father, who loves us. 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).