Psalm 29:11

NASB	NLT	VOICE
11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.	11 The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.	11 We ask You, Eternal One, to give strength to Your people; Eternal One, bless them with the gift of peace.

Gifts of Strength and Peace

In the biblical context, strength describes physical and spiritual fortitude. The Hebrew word for strength implies might, power, and/or resilience. God gifts this to His followers. God gives this strength to the weary and gives power to those that are weak. It’s not just for our personal comfort, but it’s so we can participate in God’s healing work in our world.

Peace is an overall term that describes well-being, wholeness, and harmony. It’s not the absence of conflict, but it’s the presence of God’s order and blessing. For the ancient Israelites, peace was understood as God’s favor and his faithfulness towards believers. This peace is all encompassing – affecting the heart and community of believers. Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace and offers this peace to His to all believers. This peace is fulfilled through the reconciling act of Christ for both God and humanity.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Think about what you need in life most right now. Do you need strength or peace right now?

Peace Overwhelms Our Souls

God is the ultimate source of our strength. My strength to get through life and the trials that life faces is through God and God alone. Life, and the forces that control the life of the world, has a way to pull us down and knock us out cold. When I am feeling beaten up, I have to go to God. My conversations with God have been raw and authentic to just share everything that’s on my heart. To be sharing the raw emotions and frustrations on my heart is my way of giving control of the situation to God. I recognize that God’s truth and justice will prevail overall in all situations, and I want to make sure that anything I say, think, or do aligns with God’s character above everything.

To find the strength to still love those around me that have hurt me. To find the strength to continue having difficult conversations when these conversations bring anxiety, panic, and fear. All these things are difficult, but to find the ability to do them with confidence and boldness is a source of strength that no one can be credited with outside of God himself. With God, there’s a source of clarity found in the works. That clarity, for me, has always felt like peace. There are still the emotions that arrive with the tough works and tough conversations that will arrive, but it’s a reminder that God is in control. God is watching over our well-being. God invites us to take it one step at a time, one moment at a time, following God’s words and actions. God’s peace will overcome our souls and work to allow us to care for ourselves and those around us properly.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How can you find God’s peace in your stress and trials?

PRAY Action

Praise God for his gifts of peace and strength. Thank God that we have a trusted source to help us through our difficult times.

Read John 14:27

Ask God for a strong source of peace through your trials. Remember not to fight your stressors yourself, for your Heavenly Father is always with you.

You are stronger than you think. I know you don’t want to be strong or forced to be strong. You are allowed to be tired. Remember that God is your firm foundation.