Seeking Peace

Ephesians 6:15

Lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace.

Seeking Peace

 This verse is part of the section in Ephesians entitled “Put on the whole armor of God.” It’s about preparing for the journey of life, especially the difficult times, by imagining ourselves relying on characteristics like truth and righteousness, in the form of armor that surrounds us. We imagine putting on these gifts from God, to help us be strong enough to walk into the parts of life that are hard to travel. So this morning I’m wondering, how does the idea of sandals laced up in preparation for the gospel of peace fit into this picture?

 I know when something hard happens in my world, my first impulse isn’t fight or flight. I tend to  freeze right where I am - to sit down, moving as little as possible, hoping that whatever has caused the internal struggle will just pass by. Ultimately though,  it turns out that the way forward starts coming clearer when I remember to move.  To walk into the next room, into the sunshine, even into the rain is to begin the journey to find peace. The internal peace that is there for us as a foundation to stand on – I wonder if it’s easier to find when we are open to paying attention to letting it move in us.  Being an instrument of God’s peace in this world asks us to walk forward trusting that peace is with us every step of the way.

Reflection Questions:

1)    Imagine that your feet are standing on a foundation of God’s peace.  How does that imagery speak to you?

2)    Do you find going for a walk helpful when you feel stuck mentally, emotionally, spiritually?

3)    How could you be an instrument of God’s peace in your world today?

Prayer: Dear God, Please help me to open myself up to walking on a foundation of the peace you provide, especially on those days I’m tempted not to move at all. In Jesus Name, Amen