A little drama took place in the office yesterday; I am always moved when I see people being oppressed or taken advantage of. It just comes natural to me, to want to make a change. Unfortunately, this particular incident took a twist and I was caught in the middle. My first reaction was, “Everyone can take it and do nothing about it but I won’t take it because it is not fair!” From that perspective, I reacted.
In the end, I felt justified but exhausted, something wasn’t feeling right. I had this irresistible urge to run home as I attributed the inner “tiredness” to all the pressures that’s been building up lately and my crucial need to get a break. I managed to make it to the close of work and as I got home and went before Abba, it struck my face – my peace!
I’d missed it! The urge I interpreted as “inward tiredness” was my typical search for escape, to hide the vulnerability that trails the loss of inner peace. I can do without a couple of things in life but not that. My peace with God is the secret of my confidence; the air that sustains my spiritual existence, the fuel of my continual joyfulness, and the essence of my buoyancy. His peace is my stability and security and I don’t trifle with anything that tampers with it.
I lay before Abba, recounting the day’s incident, expecting His understanding and support like I got my boss’ but He gave none. That was when I stopped telling my side of the story and began to seek His view and the route to peace. As I surrendered it all at His feet, His words washed over me and shushed my claim to “fairness.”
“I am not after fairness, but after truth and peace and righteousness. I don’t expect you to be perfect but I do expect that you work and walk peaceably with all men no matter what is at stake. It is not about ‘I’, it is about Me and to whom much is given, much is expected. I expect your priority in all things and at all times to be ‘Me’ not ‘you.’ I expect that you work My will and walk My way for Mine is the way of grace and peace.”
On my knees, I set aside all excuses, accepted full responsibility based on His revelation and made it right with Him. First thing this morning, I made it right at work according to His directions and once again, I could feel the precious smile and approval of my Father as I walked through another day, ready to anchor my focus on Him, His word, His will, His way irrespective of unabated pressures.
Of course Abba does not want His dear children to be trampled on, neither does He want them to throw tantrums and complicate issues. All I needed to have done was to keep my focus on Him not “I.” Looking back from His perspective, like a friend recently said, it was “a whole lot of nothing” after all. When we keep our eyes on Him, He leads in the way of peaceable solutions, even through impossible situations.
I don’t know what your present situation is like, may be not as dramatic as mine but the question is, “Are you listening to your heart?” Are you sure that your focus has not been shifted by the multitude of needs tugging from all sides with the tendency to push one into “self” protective mode? You need to be sure that you are interpreting situations correctly and responding appropriately so that you are not justifying your actions and living in false peace.
Beloved, these present times are so delicate that we need to set aside the endless cares and mounting pressures and zoom in all our focus on Christ, our peace, “our help in ages past, our hope for times to come.” That is the way to get rid of the little foxes that ruin precious vines and stay connected to the ark that saves in a sinking world. It is not about what is happening around, which may not be under your control. Keep your eyes on the Lord and a firm grip on your soul, He will work it all together for good.
Glory!