I think we often mistake having a peace for what it often is: desire. Have you ever been guilty of this? I sure have been. New Year’s Eve, 2018, Terry, Michala and I got to spend the night by the water. I went out early and sat by the water, praying. I prayed specifically about something Terry and I were facing; a decision we knew we might be forced into making, and a decision we did not want to face. So I prayed, “Please show us a sign, Papa. Show us if you want x, y, z to happen.” While I won’t go into what x,y,z was just yet, it was something Terry and I both wanted, badly. We wanted it so much we could taste it.
Terry and I decided to pray specifically for God to give us a peace about what we needed to do. We knew what we wanted to do, but we were not sure about what we needed to do. Our desire filled our hearts and minds with ideas on how to achieve what we wanted. But was it what God wanted for us? This was where we struggled, because we desperately wanted to be in the Will of God.
So on New Year’s Eve, 2018, I sat by the water and begged God, “Show us a sign, Papa. Please show us a sign. Show us if you want this to happen.” When Terry and Michala joined me outside, I told them about my prayer. Moments later, dolphins graced us with their presence. The three of us stood, speechless and in awe as the dolphins danced and appeared for us. Michala whispered, “You think this is your sign?”
Terry and I took it as our sign. We were confident God sent those dolphins when He did, where He did and how He did, just for us to have a peace about our prayer request.
Fast forward one year later, however, and the same prayer was being echoed. The things we needed to happen did not happen. The people who were supposed to do the right things, did not do them. So we were left standing, waiting, wondering … and worshipping.
Early one morning in January, I sat outside with my Bible and coffee and asked God, “What were those dolphins about, Papa? I thought they were to show us specifically what we asked you. Were they not?”
Terry and I realized what we very much believed was a peace from seeing the dolphins, was actually our desire, manifested by what we desperately wanted it to be. We wanted something specifically to happen, but it did not. The dolphins were likely a sign to show us as the dolphins chased after one another … we were to chase after God’s desire for us, not our own. This is where we find our peace … only in Him.
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” - Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
I am certain our peace concerning this life change Terry and I made will come. It just has not washed over us, yet. No matter what, I do not ever want to mistake my desires and what I want to happen as a peace from God.
It is easy to just assume one thing as peace, rather than earnestly questioning God if it is peace from Him or our own desires. Let’s be mindful of our thoughts and keep our eyes fixed on things above; on God.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
God will reveal Himself to us in His timing, and His peace will be worth the wait.