“I Found Peace In The Lord”
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Fran writes:
I was twenty-seven before I heard the way of salvation was other than being good. I was living the normal merry-go-round life of a wife and mother of two. Except it wasn’t so merry sometimes.
I put myself under such pressure, even a simple phone ringing sent me for the bottle of tranquilizers. Then the unexpected death of my parents shook my already unsteady world. Besides my deep grief, I now had big questions. What happens when you die? What is life all about? I tried going back to my childhood church whose hypocrisy had years ago turned me off of religion. They had no answers for me. Seeking peace and answers, I increased the speed of my merry-go-round. God being so merciful, pursued me until I found Him. He sent Donna into my life. Through her love and prayers, she led me to the doorway of salvation.
She gave me a Bible and patiently answered my myriad of questions. I learned I couldn’t work my sin away, I couldn’t do enough good works to get to heaven. It was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had already earned my way for me (Rom 5:8).
When I read in the book of John (14:27) that Jesus said He gives me peace and it wasn’t the peace as the world gives and that I was not to let my heart be troubleld or afraid. I knew this bible was for me.
Donna told me if I’d even if I’d been the only one, He loved me enough to die just for me!
No words can describe what happened in my life once I chose to go through the open door of salvation. God gave me true peace and joy, and a love for Him and His Word.
No matter what life has brought, no matter which doors I have chosen, I have weathered it—for He is the Source of my peace and joy. While I didn’t become instantly perfect , He began a gentle work which is still going on.
Each day is indeed an adventure with Him—and it keeps getting better.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 NIV).
Prayer: “Thank you Father, for your Son Jesus Christ who died, was buried, and rose again for my sins. I come by faith and ask You to forgive me. I surrender myself to you, and thank You for coming into my life. I believe Your promises are true, and I am now Your child by faith. Amen.”
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on November 13th, 2008 and filed under Praise, Your Stories, Bible, God's Love, Hope, Conversions, Evangelization, Mentoring, Grace, God's Sovereignty, Struggles, Life Verse.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Dear Fran:
What a beautiful prayer: “I surrender myself to you, and thank You for coming into my life. I believe Your promises are true, and I am now Your child by faith. Amen.”
I echo your prayer, Amen!
Understandably, however man and even churches mean well, and try, they are human, and at times, “Their minds are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isaiah 57:20).
But Jesus said to His Disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me” (John 14:1); for
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).
Therefore, ” Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
Thus, “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Thank you.
May GOD ALL MIGHTY Bless you inestimably and infinitely;
GODSPEED, always and forevermore!
Mary Sun.