A Peace That Surpasses All Understanding...

So this morning as I was taking my sister to school I heard these words from the voice on the radio...a peace that surpasses all understanding. I repeated those words out loud a few times and started to think about the amazing truth they hold. A peace that surpasses all understanding...only a peace that God can provide. Lately I've been thinking a lot about how I'm not meant to understand everything God does..but I've only looked at one side of that. I've been looking at all the hard things God puts in my path and how I'm not always meant to understand them. Well when I heard these words this morning I started to think...not only does God give us trials beyond our comprehension, but He gives us peace so magnificent that we can't even fathom it sometimes. There have been countless days this summer where I've wondered if I will ever be able to experience true peace again. I was feeling as though day after day was filled with trials...and as much as I was learning through them...I wasn't feeling total peace. Well later this afternoon I was sitting outside just relaxing, listening to music, and thinking. I was thinking about the ways I have been hurting and how much I wanted to be free of it all...but instead of getting down like I used to, I realized I had a real peace about it that I haven't had before and it didn't quite make sense to me. I haven't felt a peace like that in SO long it took a minute for me to let it sink in. A few moments later a song came on that I've never heard before. It's called My Hope Is In You by Aaron Shust. Since it was the first time I had heard it, I closed my eyes and listened closely to the words when all of a sudden those words came out of nowhere again...A PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING. Ever have those moments where you just know God is trying to communicate something to you? =) I couldn't understand where the peace I was feeling was coming from and then boom. God answered me through those precious words...twice in one day. So pretty much what I believe God was telling me is this...even when it seems all hope is lost, even when I feel like I will never have peace again, even when it feels like God is so far away...He never fails us. He is our helper. He brings us peace when we least expect it and only when our hearts are completely surrendered to Him. This isn't the end...I know I still have hard days to face, but what a comfort it is knowing that God brings us a peace so amazing that only He can comprehend it and which we can only receive through Him. God has been trying to show me this peace available to me for SO long if only I would surrender my whole heart to Him. He gives us peace through helping others. He gives us peace through His word. He gives us peace through the ordinary things like laughing...laughing until it hurts at 4 in the morning. Today I finally have the peace described in Philippians 4:7...peace that surpasses all understanding. I can't begin to describe how freeing it feels to finally let myself smile and laugh again. I thank the Lord for this peace He has given to me. I know that it is found only in Him while keeping a surrendered and willing heart. What an amazing hope and peace we can have in our Lord! *Psalm 121*