“there is no such thing as entering the rest of God without opposition
I once heard a story involving two artists who were asked to paint pictures of peace as they perceived it.
One painted a quiet, still lake, far back in the mountains.
The other painted a raging, rushing waterfall which had a bird resting in a nest on one of the branches.
which one truly depicts peace?
the second one does because there is no such thing as peace without opposition. the first painting represents stagnation. Jesus said “Peace I leave with you My peace I now give to you. Not as the world gives (John 14:27)
His peace is a spiritual peace. His rest is one that operates in the midst of the storm — not in its absence. Jesus did not come to remove all opposition from our lives, but rather to give us a different approach to the storms of life.
We are to take His yoke and learn of Him (matt 11:29) That means that we are to learn His ways, to approach life the same way He did!
~ excerpt from Joyce Meyers’ “Battlefield of the Mind”
just picture a bird resting in a nest on one of these branches
Do you ever thinking that our perception of peace is skewed by the quiet, still lake, far back in the mountains???
“peace” really is meaningful when God brings peace through turbulent times. It’s like the calm character in the middle of a gunfight, who walks confidently, and takes care of his people in the middle of combat. Peace with purpose.
Hi Diana!
Thanks for sharing this perspective? Did you choose to talk about this issue when you read my mail? I wonder but thanks for writing out what Joyce Meyer said and your thoughts too! Hope to be able to read this book soon!
And yes, I totally agree with you that we can really see, feel and experience peace when we are going through tired times. It is when we are so pressed at work that there is an emptiness to fill, a longing for an escape. And that is when we really look to God and depend on Him, knowing that He knows best what we really need.
Amen!