Peace That Does Not Come From Wealth

I woke up this morning with pain in my back.

There were many times in my life when physical pain would have sent me into panic. I would have worried about work, money, provision, and whether I could keep everything from falling apart.

But this morning was different.

I had peace in my heart. Not because I am wealthy; I’ve learned to trust in God’s faithfulness. No, not because it’s easy; when fear tries to convince me to worry, I choose to exercise my trust muscles by speaking of God’s faithfulness. And not because there are no concerns; I am human, and I have plenty of concerns to give to God daily, because He cares about His children.

The LORD has been faithful to care for me again and again. He has provided, sustained, covered, strengthened, corrected, and held me when I did not know how I would make it through another day. 

As I pondered the peace of Christ, I remembered His words: ” Unless we become like little children, we shall not enter the Kingdom of God. He has taught me to live peacefully in the day; tomorrow isn’t here yet. So I give Him Today.

For a long time, that was difficult for me to understand. As a child, I could not simply be a child. Work became the way to peace. Work became the way to appease caregivers. Work became the way to survive.

So when I thought of God, I misunderstood Him through the wounds of my childhood. I believed He was a tyrant. I believed He did not care about injustice. I believed He looked away from the oppressed, from the fatherless, and from the widow.

But the truth is, God was never the tyrant.

He is the Father who sees—defender of the oppressed.
He is the Helper of the fatherless. He is the Judge who does not look away.
He is the One who commands His people to do right.

His Word is firm:

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
— Isaiah 1:17

So my peace does not mean complacency.

The peace of Christ is not indifference. It is not closing our eyes to suffering. It is not pretending that injustice does not exist.

His peace gives us strength to return, rest, trust, and obey.

As Isaiah 30:15 says:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.”

There is a quiet strength that comes from trusting God. Strength, that does not panic, strives for control, bows to fear, and does not stop caring.

It rests in the LORD, and from that place of rest, it learns to do right.

Sacred Pause

Lord, where have I mistaken rest for weakness?

Where have I confused peace with doing nothing?

Where have childhood wounds shaped the way I see You?

Teach me to return, rest, trust, and obey.

Prayer for Repentance, Leaders, and Justice

LORD of Heavenly Hosts,

Speak to the heavens and the earth, which You have created. Let Your voice be heard above the noise of fear, pride, corruption, cruelty, and indifference.

Jesus, send leaders who hear Your voice and walk in obedience to Your will.

Raise leaders who seek justice, Love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Raise men and women who will defend the oppressed, care for the orphan, and plead the case of the widows who are crying out to You right now for help.

Father, cleanse us of our sins and make us white as snow. Purge away our dross. Remove the impurities in our hearts, homes, churches, communities, and nation.

Forgive us for the times we looked away from injustice. Forgive us for the times we chose comfort over obedience, silence over truth, and fear over faith.

Forgive us for misrepresenting Your heart to the wounded, the fatherless, the oppressed, and the grieving.

Restore our leaders and rulers according to Your will. Turn their hearts toward mercy, justice, and righteousness. Teach them to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow. Let them fill empty cabinets. Where rent is due, heal the ears of leaders who are deaf to their cries, and hands that are limp to the cries of people in need. Where injustice thrives, LORD, You are just, bring justice, send someone to plead their case.

And Lord, begin with us.

Let my peace be rooted in Christ.
Let my rest be joined with obedience.
Let my trust become strength.
Let my life reflect Your mercy and justice.

You are not a tyrant.
You are the Holy God who sees, saves, corrects, restores, and defends.

Holy Spirit, heal the places where childhood taught us to strive instead of rest, and teach us the quiet strength of returning, trusting, and obeying.

LORD raise leaders who do right, seek justice, Love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria.