here’s the Peace?

Isaiah 30 - 32
 
Isaiah 32:18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
 
SEE the word “my”. “My people” implies a very special truth: those who obey God belong to God. When you belong to God, something wonderful happens. You live in his peace.
    As the common pattern of Isaiah’s prophecies, these three chapters tell of God’s promises of both trouble and of peace for his people. The trouble comes to Judah because of another common among the Jews. They have deeply sinned by seeking protection from Egypt. They do not trust the LORD of Heaven’s armies to protect them from their enemies. In response, God brings great distress to his people because they are children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. (Isaiah 30:9) The LORD also laments his children’s neglect: Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” They would “have none of it.” There is no peace when there is no faith in God’s power to affect all matters of our lives. How many times must we understand this lesson for our own lives? How many times will we cause God to lament our unbelief?
    But in his grace, God points forward to the day his people will live under his care. Isaiah 30:18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! The Living God assures his people that he will bring them out of conflict and into blessing.
    Yes, it’s true. Believing Jesus is your Lord and Savior doesn’t guarantee worldly peace, an abundant harvest or fresh water in your home. Many Christian people live where “One meal a day is a war.” Illnesses, job loss, and natural disasters come along in life through no one’s fault. What’s more, believing in Jesus and telling the world about him may cause conflict with other people. Many die for their faith. Homes are destroyed, and families are torn apart because some confess, “I love Jesus.”
    Where, then, is the peace and rest God promises? The essence of God’s rest is in the moral standards of his law. These “rules for life” give you the means to choose right from wrong. As you choose these ways, you are closely connected with God. His peace will be with you, even as the world rages around you and against you because you know everlasting God is your Father in heaven, his Son Jesus is your Savior and his Spirit is empowering your life each day.
    Living the law is to “Love the Lord your God.” and “Love your neighbors as yourself.” This is a life of building “peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Trusting Jesus as Lord guarantees peace inside you.
    The images of plenty and peace in these chapters point to God’s gracious love to draw you fully into his kingdom one day.
 
May the Peace of Christ which passes all understanding be with you now and forever.