Devotional - May 25, 2004

Many will go through problems today unlike anything they've experienced before. And their pain and sorrow may be compounded by the fact they've put distance between themselves and God by failing to confess their sin. David learned that if guilt and shame comes in through a door opened by sin, confession is the closure that shuts it out.

David's life is an open book. What we learn from the Bible is that he was a man much like us. He trusted God and if his life teaches us anything, it is how to do the same thing regardless of our seemingly hopeless situation.

In the first verse of Samuel 7:1 we read that after David was settled in his palace and the Lord gave him rest from all his enemies around him. It may have seemed to him as if life would slow down a little and be smoother sailing from that moment forward. But if we learn anything from life, we know that being a child of God means trouble is on the way even if we can't see it right now. If we've got seeming peace from our enemy, we better enjoy it while we can because the sound of battle may be just around the corner.

Jesus gave us a blessing beyond measure when He said, "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27) The peace the world gives is temporary and comes from the absence of conflict. The peace we can know through Jesus is peace in the midst of the storm and it's as permanent as God's ability to keep His word.

Are you experiencing the peace that comes through trust in Jesus as your Savior? Are you suffocating in a life without hope or have you learned that problems can be nothing more than air upon which you soar by God's grace. God will give you peace, but you have to ask Him first. And when you do and He gives it, you'll learn Peace has another name. His name is Holy Spirit, our divine Comfortor and Counselor.

If you know Jesus, then you already know Peace. If you don't, you know NO peace.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2Sa. 7:1-8:18 Jn. 14:15-31 Ps. 119:36-52 Pr. 15:33 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society