Let Peace Rule

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (KJV)

It was a poorly organized Wal-Mart shopping trip. We had already picked up all of the groceries, including ice cream, and now here we were in the toy department, waiting on my seven-year-old daughter to pick out a toy. We had been waiting for at least twenty minutes.

“Cassie, hurry up,” I said, exasperated. “The ice cream is melting. Just pick something and let’s go.”

“I’m trying,” she replied. “I just can’t decided.”

“Then I’ll decide for you.”

“No, Mommy. Wait! I’ll pick something.”

I waited and waited, thinking about the ice cream melting in the cart. We still had the check-out to go through as well as a fifteen-minute ride home in a hot car.

Finally, I helped her pick out a coloring book. With all four children in tow, we hurried through the checkout, only to discover in the parking lot that the slinky my five-year-old had chosen wasn’t in the bag.

“Arrg!” I exclaimed, sounding a bit like a pirate. “We have to go back.”

I glanced over at the cart return, hoping the slinky was still in the basket. A couple walking to their car noticed me and said, “Someone else already took your cart.”

“I’m just so frustrated,” I told them. “We have this ice cream….and it’s melting…”

The couple nodded and walked on, but all I could think about was how ridiculous I sounded. The ice cream…I was letting a $2.00 box of ice cream ruin my day.

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts….” Often when we read this promise in Scripture, we think about God’s peace during traumatic or difficult events: a terrible storm, an illness, a lost job, the death of a loved one. But God’s peace is available all the time, even for the small things can upset us. God’s peace can keep our hearts and minds when we are late for an appointment, when our children won’t stop arguing with each other, when one shoe is lost somewhere, and even at Wal-Mart when our ice cream is melting.

How do we find that peace? The Word says we are to LET the peace of God rule in our hearts. It is up to us to step back from the situation and give it over to Him. We are to CHOOSE the peace of God: seek Him in prayer, seek Him in the Scriptures, seek Him with thanksgiving.

“Thank You, Lord, for four precious children with whom I can share a box of melted ice cream. Thank you, Father, for Your peace.”