For years, I was the storm that disrupted other people’s peace whenever I walked into a room. My life was filled with so much frustration and chaos that even if I tried to be peaceful, I failed miserably. When I think about Jesus being the Prince of Peace and peace being a fruit of the Spirit, I wonder how we can all get to a place where, when all hell is breaking loose, we can experience this fruit and also help others access it.
Before 2016, I didn’t know how to tap into what Jesus had already given me access to. Peace is something we inherit through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Naturally, anything that God grants us via our relationship with Jesus Christ, the enemy will try to steal (John 10:10).
It took me a long time to realize that much of what I was experiencing during the years when I didn’t know how to access the peace of Christ was a spiritual battle to keep me in a state of despair, even during joyful times. I’ve met and been in connection with people who don’t know how to be at peace, even when life is joyful, and things are going well. That’s not a personality issue, that’s a spiritual issue. I know what it’s like to be on both ends, so let me share some wisdom:
1) Control what you can, and release what you can’t. Most of us lose our peace because we like being in control. God uses circumstances and situations where we have to trust His sovereignty over our own operations manual to get us to a place of humility. There’s nothing wrong with wanting things to go well or with wanting order where there is disorder – but people who struggle with the spirit of control find themselves in constant cycles of peace disruption. Sometimes, it is the devil; and sometimes, it’s us handing him the keys. Don’t be the weapon formed against yourself because you won’t allow God to work through what you’re going through.
God uses circumstances and situations where we have to trust His sovereignty over our own operations manual to get us to a place of humility.
2) Storms will come, but you can stir your boat. Listen, the way life has been coming for many of us since 2020 has left many of us grappling for a life raft. While storms will always be a part of life, when you’re submitted to God, He never leaves you in a storm without a boat. He’s our safety and peace in the storm, and we access that by learning how to stir our boat amid the storm. He may tell us to pause and stop rowing until a wave passes; He may tell us to row left a bit to avoid a huge wave that would topple the boat over; or He may tell us to row faster to get ahead of an oncoming wave. Don’t let the storm steal your peace when God provides wisdom, strategy, and insight into how to row your boat while you’re in the storm.
3) Accessing what you already have, means staying filled with what you need. You can’t drive a car on an empty tank of gas. If you’re peace is running low, have you been staying filled with The Prince of Peace, or are you full of worldly things or things that promise a false peace? In today’s culture, there are a lot of false promises of peace going around. Whether it’s the idea that crystals or a new spiritual gimmick will bring you peace, or the perception that peace can be found in more vacations and more material blessings, there is no peace separate from Jesus. Stay filled with Jesus by partnering with Him daily in prayer, through The Word (studying and meditating on it, Joshua 1:8), and worship. In the last several years, I’ve had deaths, financial setbacks, repossession, and mental health challenges, sometimes all within a short period, only to be able to stand ten toes down because I’m locked into the Peace Giver.
Longsuffering
Longsuffering means to exercise patience and trust amid trials and unfavorable circumstances, especially in situations that we didn’t cause. Now, that’s the part that should make everyone say, “Hmmm”. Here’s the thing; We know life will life, and that hard times will come. Even unbelievers understand that reality. The challenge is dealing with trials and circumstances that are either presented to us because God trusts us to handle them, or because of external things that we have no control or say so, over.
Jesus is our greatest Teacher of longsuffering (patience). Imagine walking with twelve men that you chose, after narrowing it down from a larger number (Luke 6), only for them to still question you after all the miracles You’ve performed, after all the words You’ve preached, and after they’ve experienced countless signs and wonders? Jesus is the GOAT when it comes to longsuffering. We will have to exhibit patience and longsuffering with those assigned to walk with us, the same way they will with us.
This means the storms that come may not have to do with us directly, but with those He’s assigned us to do life with. Jesus walked through life with people, even knowing they would betray Him, mock Him, and eventually, crucify Him. Yet, we scream and we’re ready to give up when life throws us a curveball, or the business partner God blessed us with has three emergencies in one day that stalls the business.
This is something that I had to learn over the last four years. While I’m mature in the area of longsuffering with my trials and tribulations, I realized that there were times I would get easily frustrated when someone else’s trials began to impede on my life. Even having a solid understanding of what it means to “weep with those who weep” didn’t help me. I eventually sought God’s wisdom and asked Him to help me.
In summary, here’s what He taught me (summarizing since it’s been years): “There’s nothing wrong with getting a little frustrated when you embark on a new journey with someone (personal, professional, business, love, etc.) and they seem to be letting you down or struggling to obey My instructions concerning you. There’s also nothing wrong with telling people what you desire of those relationships and connections, especially those I’ve ordained. That’s important. However, the areas they may struggle in as far as managing the stress and chaos in their life is an opportunity for you to introduce them to more of Me instead of making it about your rejection issues. Yes, people shouldn’t take advantage of anyone’s understanding (i.e. they have a busy schedule doesn’t negate them having to steward well what they prayed for), however, trust that if I brought them to you, there’s a grace on your life to handle all that comes with that. Will you suffer long in your relationships to show people more of Me?”
Chile…God is from North Philly. I promise you with the way He gets me together that Bethlehem must be right on the outskirts of 17th & Erie where I grew up (side note: There is a city called Bethlehem in Pennsylvania). God talks my language to humble me but it helps me help you. I get to tell it like it is in a way that my readers will get it.
Okay, back to the matter at hand. Longsuffering is a fruit that comes through experiences that we’d much rather avoid. Love and Joy are fruits everyone wants to develop because they sound so cute. Even peace makes you kumbaya a bit, right? But longsuffering requires submission to seasons of hardship that will probably take more out of us than we feel we have. Not to mention, the fruit of The Spirit shows up internally before it ever displays externally, and as human beings, we like to SEE results when we suffer through some stuff.
With both peace and longsuffering, they require constant submission to the work of the Holy Spirit. Yield to every moment that God provides to be developed in these areas. Don’t let anyone or anything steal your peace but ask the Holy Spirit to help you guard your peace; and let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).