What is peace? Is it the ending of war? No, that’s a truce. Real peace comes when harmony is established. It’s the same with our souls. We war with ourselves, fighting our base instincts to become the people God wants us to be. And that’s a good thing, but it can be stressful and depressing when we don’t measure up to our own yardstick of expected progress.

True peace happens when we allow God to take control of the emotions and passions warring in our souls. When we know we can’t achieve perfection, and we give it over, knowing he will teach us in a gentle way how to be more like Him.

What I usually do is give something over to him, then snatch it back to gnaw on it some more. When I’m finally worn out and my teeth hurt, I finally dump it at his feet and back away. Then a wondrous thing happens. The tight band around my chest loosens and I can breathe again. I should have done this years ago, I say. So why do I continue to tie myself in a knot? I know I’ll do it again with another problem, and I wonder why I don’t learn.

It’s partly fear of the process. We know the outcome will be good, but will there be pain involved? Maybe. He didn’t promise a life devoid of pain, and not surprisingly, we’re afraid of it. The greats in the Bible were afraid too. Gideon said you can’t mean me, God, and Moses fussed about it so much he made God a little mad. But both men were used mightily, because they gave it up.

Peace is harmony in your soul. Knowing that you belong to Him, and what He asks of you, He’ll help you do.  You’re not alone, and it’s not all on your shoulders.