You can keep your peace even in the busiest and hardest seasons of life. In John 5:19 (NLT), Jesus says, “‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” Even in that busy life Jesus had, He still had a heart quiet enough that He could see and hear from the Father.
Last year, my wife, Laurie, and I experienced a season of life that taught us how the gift of peace can transform your life and leadership. On a beautiful autumn day, she decided to take her motorcycle out for a ride, resulting in an accident that started a completely unexpected journey for us.
What followed was a series of surgeries and rehabilitative work that kept her in a medical bed in the middle of our living room for months. She’d broken her pelvis in multiple places and had to learn how to walk again.
Through this journey, we learned how to live with a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Here are some of the lessons He taught us in that season:
1) We’re With Him
In the middle of one of Laurie’s darkest and loneliest hours in the hospital, He whispered to her, “You’re with Me.” In that precious moment, she was able to agree with the most powerful, trustworthy and loving Being in the world. He never leaves us and never forsakes us (Heb. 13:5).
2) Peace Is Our Permanent Possession
Jesus said, “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” (John 14:27, TPT). Jesus gave us His peace. If we find ourselves without it, it must be because of something that baited us to give up that peace at some point. Repent and reclaim it.
3) We Don’t Have to Have All the Answers
The Holy Spirit is our teacher and doesn’t always give us the answers we seek. Regardless, we can have confidence because our faith is built on what we already know about Him. “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me” (John 16:33, TPT). When it all comes crashing down around us and we don’t have the answers, we ought to welcome our friend named “mystery.” It’s in the mystery that we get to exercise our faith. It’s in the mystery that we get to walk out living in His peace.
To learn more about how you can live and lead with peace in the midst of tragedy or triumph, listen to the full podcast episode at www.randallangley.com/podcast. You can also subscribe to the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast with Dr. Langley to listen to this episode and others for more biblical wisdom on the areas of lordship, leadership and lifestyle. {eoa}
Dr. Randal S. Langley is the president and CEO of Christian Life School of Theology Global (CLSTG), a world leader in theological and leadership education, providing online degree programs and customized Christian higher-education solutions for churches, ministries and other organizations. Dr. Langley is also president of the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries and is a founding partner and certified life coach, teacher and trainer for the John C. Maxwell team. His desire is to help people fulfill their ultimate purposes in life and achieve their God-given dreams.
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