Seeking for Peace
I recently found a letter on my computer that I wrote to a church in Arkansas around 12 years ago. In a way, it was an apology, because I did not accept the pastorate of the church, even though I received a majority of the vote. It was certainly a difficult decision because of the kindness my family received from the congregation, the financial strain we were already experiencing, and the lack of available pastoral positions. So, the question could easily be asked: why didn’t I “take the church”? It is true that we did not get a landslide vote, and it is true that the salary was quite a bit less than what we had received previously, but neither of these reasons played a major factor. No, the answer is simply that I chose not to accept it because of peace.
The apostle Paul once encouraged the believers at Colossae to, “...let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) I did not have peace in my heart over accepting the pastorate. I prayed often for direction, discernment, and wisdom, but at the end of the day, I also prayed for me to experience the peace of God. For some people, seeking God’s peace in their big decisions is a foreign concept. Their choices are either conditioned upon finances, conveniences, or outside pressures. The believer in Christ should be led by the Holy Spirit and ruled by His peace.
Regarding such peace, Albert Barnes once wrote: “...It is to preside over and govern the mind; to preserve everything in its place; and to save it from tumult, disorder, and irregularity. The thought is a very beautiful one. The soul is liable to the agitations of passion and excitement—like an assembled multitude of men. It needs something to preside over it, and keep its various faculties in place and order; and nothing is so well fitted to do this as the calm peace which religion gives, a deep sense of the presence of God, the desire and the evidence of His friendship, the hope of His favor, and the belief that He has forgiven all our sins.”
Do you have the peace of God in your life? Are you allowing His peace to guide you when you make decisions? It was a difficult choice that I made, but not long after I turned down the opportunity, something better opened up for me and my family, and the church in Arkansas voted for a good friend of mine, who received 100 percent support to pastor there. God knows the end from the beginning, so why not let Him lead your steps and allow His peace to rule your heart?
