May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! (ESV) 

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (NIV) 

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. (NLT) 

Theme Intro:

Because of the Good News of Christ’s payment of sin in our place, we can have peace! Much like righteousness, seeing peace reach further into a world in disarray seems rare. This month’s goal is not to demand that the Christian never experience any uncertainty. Instead, we will be reminded of the peace of God through Jesus alone that we cling to, what is certain in Him, and hopeful for the day when soul-level stillness will fall more freely and abundantly than rain. The Shoes of Peace are sturdy boots, allowing believers to walk on treacherous paths without fear, leaving the footprint of gospel peace wherever we tread. 

Dive Deeper:

Chaos Within

Recently, my wife pulled me aside and said, “Ben, I notice that whenever you become anxious, you start compulsively cleaning our apartment. It seems like you are trying to bring peace to our apartment because your mind is chaotic.” I have sat with this and wrestled with why. Why do life experiences have such power over my inner world? Why do I try to create physical peace around me when I experience anxiety in my mind? 

Peace, Disorder, and Strength

In Psalm 29, David calls us to ascribe glory to the Lord. He declares the power of God over the waters, the deserts, and the land. He says in verse 5, “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” (Psalm 29:5). The cedars of Lebanon tower over the rest, reaching a height of 130ft. They are some of the strongest trees, with a diameter of up to 8ft. But the Lord’s voice crushes even these. David leaves us with our memory verse this week, “The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” (Psalm 29:11). 

The Deepest Reality

So, what do we take from all of this? Simply put, the reality of who God is never changes. His strength is unmatched. He reigns as Lord. On the other hand, our own reality constantly changes. Because of this, our experiences and surroundings tend to dictate our peace, but when we can see God's reality clearly, God's peace rises above our current reality. We find true strength and lasting peace when we press into this deepest reality. When I get distracted by my current circumstances, I find myself trying to create a sense of peace around me, which has recently been done by cleaning my apartment. How much more, when I can reflect on God, who is my Rock, and begin to bless His name, will I find true strength and peace? Vastly more.

We exist in a world of disorder, a world of chaos. If we never pull our eyes up to God to see his strength and receive his peace, we will be sucked into the constant storms of anxiety the world gives us. The Lord gives us His strength even when we are weak, especially when we are weak, and gives us peace in the midst of every circumstance. A type of peace that leaves the watching world in awe.

Written by Ben Hesch

Challenge:

Pray through Psalm 29 aloud as you begin your day. Allow the deepest reality of God’s power, His strength, and His Lordship to dictate your experience throughout the day. See Him clearly and receive His strength.