God sends a lot of people across my path and one thing I hear myself saying repeatedly is: “Despite what your head is telling you, listen to your heart. God will always lead you in peace.”
Finding peace is the key to finding your way through a noisy world. There are thousands of voices you could follow, but there’s only One that should have a gateway to your heart. Jesus compared this to a Shepherd. He said, “When He has brought all His own outside, He goes ahead of them. The sheep follow Him because they know His voice” (John 10:4).
In a noisy and chaotic world, the best voice to follow is the Shepherd.
His voice will always lead you in peace.
Remember the story of the disciples caught in the storm while Jesus went to pray? The Bible says in the middle of the night the winds rose up and began to toss the boat on the waves. No one was sleeping. They had their eyes on the storm. And then suddenly, they saw something else and were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said.
Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). The disciples couldn’t fully see Jesus but they knew His voice (and His presence).
I remember a particular mission trip in Honduras when our team got caught outside in a terrible storm. As we tried to make our way to some covered bleachers, I couldn’t even blink the rain away from my eyes to see but I recognized the sound of team members and was able to make my way toward them.
In the same way, although His disciples couldn’t see Him yet, they heard the voice of their Shepherd. Peter even called out and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water!” Jesus simply said, “Come.”
The boat was being battered by waves, the rain was pouring, and the disciples were in somewhat of a panic. This is not a quiet, serene scene. It’s noisy. It was upsetting. But Peter stepped out anyway. Why? Because he recognized the VOICE that brought peace.
It didn’t make sense for Peter to step out. But that’s why it’s called “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
Your head will always be full of questions.
You and I won’t find our footing if we only “reason” it out. Questions can lead to doubt (especially the wrong questions), but “God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 AMPC).
To know this peace, you must know His Word too.
I have certain friends and family that I recognize over the phone by the first word they say. This is because I’ve spent time with them. I know their voice. In the same way, I know God’s leading because I know His Word. The Holy Spirit is faithful to whisper it to my heart.
Peace is also a choice.
Paul went on to say, “…whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them] …and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 AMPC).
Jesus made our heart His home. This is why peace is of the heart, and not necessarily the head. It’s a peace that will guard our hearts from being broken and our minds from being troubled.
Many things want to steal our peace. And sadly, the challenges and trials of this world aren’t going to get any less noisy. But despite all that, there is a peace that can lead us through every storm. And my prayer is that you find it in Christ.
