I can be a “sky is falling” type of person, especially when I read or watch the news. Even as a Christian, sometimes it’s hard to concentrate on the good and positive when the world seems to grow scarier and more dangerous by the day. And it’s during those tension-filled moments of fear that I resonate with Gideon, struggling to see God at work in my world. But God’s reminder of assurance is the same today as it was for Gideon: His peace trumps every reason to fear.
The LORD said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid.” —Judges 6:23
Gideon’s story takes place during some of Israel’s darkest spiritual days, when the nation’s sins led to repeated cycles of invasion by various countries. Circumstances were dire. Midian and company had ransacked Israel’s crops, leaving the nation poverty stricken. Midian’s overwhelming presence had also driven many of the Israelites from their homes to the safety of mountains and caves. In these harsh living conditions, Gideon believes the God of his ancestors has abandoned Gideon and his people.
We miss God’s voice when we focus only on what life around us looks like. From our ground-level view, things can seem hopeless and overwhelming. But when God shows us His perspective, we realize things are radically different from how they appear.
We can also let our present circumstances shape how we see ourselves, causing us to miss out on how God sees us. It seems ironic that the angel of the Lord greets Gideon as a “valiant warrior” when his behavior seems to contradict the title (Judges 6:12). Even in this scene of hiding, God sees a valiant warrior. Fear and preservation have driven him to sift wheat in the secrecy of the winepress—a nearly impossible task. Wheat was always sifted above ground: as the grain was tossed in the air, the wind carried the chaff away.
Today’s narrative reminds us to not let anything dull our senses to God’s nearness. Everything changes when Gideon finally realizes that God has been there all along. Gideon’s response is filled with the appropriate fear of a human in the presence of the divine. But the Lord offers peace. “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid” (v.23).
God’s presence always means peace for His people, even if that peace looks different than we expect. He is our peace, our faithful Shepherd who walks through every season of life with us. Even when our journey leads us through the “darkest valley,” we have no need to fear (Psalm 23:4).
This is the assurance that we need when the world feels scarier, more dangerous. It’s the confidence we need when things in our own life feel the same way.
Peace to you. Don’t be afraid. It’s an affirmation that we should post on our mirrors or refrigerators or computer monitors. It’s a promise that we should repeat to ourselves, over and over. It’s a challenge that we should embrace in the face of doubt. And it’s a reminder that should strengthen our faith, knowing the words come from God Himself.
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67 thoughts on "For He Is Your Peace"
Peace, what a wonderful thing for us to have, and God has it in abundance!
So good! Thankful for this reminder.
Sometimes I think I would have more peace if I had too down point of view instead of ground level. This reminded me that He meets me at my level, lifts my chin and says “Peace to you
You are my peace Lord! With you I fear nothing ❤️
The lord is peace he restores my soul ♥️
Peace be to unto you! God is good!
So needed for the tasks that fill this day
Such a great reminder that God uses people of all types who deal with all kinds of problems . To all of them he reminds them of his presence and that he gives his peace. We just need to receive it.
Lord please help me with my anxieties. please father. I love you.
♥️
❤️
Yes lord! I invite your peace within me today!
Having God be present with us in our messy, broken homes is the greatest gift. God is with us and for us there’s just nothing better.
He restores my soul
@Marci Foote- I share your feeling of sympathy for the Israelites and Gideon. These types of passages in which God hands people over to destruction due to them turning from His ways always were hard for me to read and I would identify with the victim. That is until my oldest son turned from faith and his behavior became self destructive and harmful to those around him. Our family poured love into him and tried to help but it got to a point in which we needed to let him feel the natural consequences of his choices. We decided to take a tough love approach. It’s called tough because it is hard on everyone involved. Holding boundaries and allowing someone you dearly love to suffer the natural consequences of their action is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. This experience has helped me to see that God is using a tough live approach on the Israelites. He is letting them suffer the natural consequences of their choice to turn from His ways so they can see their error, repent and turn back. It is for the Israelites good that God allowed them to be handed over to destruction. It helped the Israelites to see their need for God and turn back to him. Have a great Sunday Shes! Thank you for your beautiful comments ❤️
Hallelujah to our heavenly father. Praise God! Amen.
I so resonate with this devo today. I lost my grandpa, who was like a father to me, a couple weeks ago. On top of that I’m having some health problems including losing my hair that is making me not feel good about myself at all. I need to focus on how God sees me and not how I see myself. God can’t use me if I’m only focused on me and my problems.
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself. – 2 Timothy 2:13.
I’m a bit behind, so just reading this today. After the global news yesterday from Ukraine, local news and even news within my own family, lately it certainly feels like “the sky is falling”. I needed this reminder today ❤️
What a timely study as we heard of the events in Ukraine today. Praying for peace for this world, God’s creation, and His people.
@TerryBaldwin I feel the same way!
Margaret W, praying for Henry. Praying for truth and God’s provision and encouragement.
@Rhonda J- it was your comment that meant so much to me. I wrote these words from the song down in my journal and will be finding it today to listen to. Thank you
That was @Christina Fowlkes- learning this comment thing :) thank you
Thank you for your peace , oh Heavenly Father!! Amen!!
Thank you so much SKY and RUTH for your help explaining! ❤
Reading today’s passage very much reminded me of Psalm 27 and Psalm 46, “My heart shall not fear”. I used to read these Psalms thinking how could this be remotely possible? Probably it won’t be possible on human level, BUT GOD, with God’s power within us helps us to defeat fear itself, it will be possible.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the [b]midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
@ Ruth Long: praying for Ottawa situation to shift, and for reconciliation in your family from the division caused by vaccine.
@ Dorothy: praying for Finley and her parents.
Peace to you. Don’t be afraid.
Love ❤️
Oh how I love the 23rd Psalm!
Prayers for my boyfriend Henry, please. He has been out of work since early December due to a diabetic emergency which happened while he was at work. His company is lying to the unemployment commission so that he cannot collect. He has no health insurance or other benefits to rely on, and SSI Disability is a long and arduous process. He has also suffered much spiritual and financial abuse from growing up in a cult, so he is getting it from every side right now. Kinda like Gideon, now that I think of it. So I ask you to pray that God uses this situation to make him a valiant warrior as he did for Gideon. Thanks, sisters.
I feel God surrounding us with His comfort and love. He has led us to Mayo in Rochester, MN- far from our family and friends. Yet He has given us so many people here to give us information and care during this time. He is working out every detail each day we are here, Even today, our key fob needed a battery. We went to Lowe’s after Steve’s radiation treatment and when Steve got the battery we needed, it was the last one they had. God provided! ❤️ I am quite interested in supplements and other means of integrative medicine and Mayo has just hired an integrative doctor. We have an appointment set up with her already. It is just so amazing to watch all the blessings God is providing while we are fighting an incurable disease. Praying for a miracle! He is with us! ❤️ Blessings to my she’s ❤️
I read from a devotional, journaling Bible titled “Thrive” and right before the 2 Timothy verse this prayer appears, “Dear God, Replace the fear Your daughter feels with faith. Give her strength and power through Your Holy Spirit at work within her from fear’s control. In Jesus’ name, amen.” This prayer really helped today after not getting much sleep b/c of concern for Finley, the little girl I care for.
Sisters be blessed and have faith over fear.
Jesus may I go through my day, weeks, and months not letting anything in this life dull me to Gods nearness
“Don’t let anything dull our senses to God’s nearness.” So good this morning!!
I know exactly the kind of fear of disappointing him. One thing that really helped me combats fear of sinning is remembering that Jesus is actively pleased when we come to confess our sins. He is Always PLEASED with you, even the milliseconds following when you mess up. Fear of God isn’t at all being scared of him. It’s a reverence for him as king, but it’s also a close, intimate love for him. He is as much a king as he is a father. So it’s the knowledge of how important he is, and yet how free you are to, like a child in the royal family, to come raucously running into the proverbial throne room and climbing up to hug him like a kid would hug their parent. This is just how I see it, and I hope this can help you feel less afraid and more free.
Amen, Maria.
Marci, don’t give up. I am praying for you. May God give you peace wherever you go today ❤️
Dorothy, praying for Finley and her parents. Marci Foote, keep working through the Word and the study. Sometimes I find reading the entire chapter and the ones around it make the selections come to light a bit more. An easy to read translation like the NLT helps me on the Old Testament especially. I am praying for you. God is so good and I’m enjoying reading everyone’s testimonies. If I can ask for prayer for healing for my father in law who is hospitalized on vacation for cardiac issues and wisdom for his treating physicians that would be so appreciated. Thank you.
Ms Mitchell, I used to feel like you do sometimes (a lot in the past). I used to stay up all night afraid of going to sleep and thinking that when I would die, that God would tell me that He didn’t love me anymore, and that He never loved me at all. I changed myself into a different person because I was afraid that God did not want the real me. But that is all a lie from the enemy. In 2020 I returned back to the Faith from almost quitting it. God loves You and all of us. I have that same question too, it’s a good question! But at the end of the day, no matter what, we serve an amazing God, that seeks to change us so we can glorify Him. I don’t think there anything better than that.
Lord, help me not to be afraid of the upcoming changes. I will trust in YOU. And You will prepare me.
2 Timothy 2:13: ” If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” Wow! Let that sit in your soul. Jesus remains faithful, even when we don’t deserve it. He, like psalm 23 says, restores our souls. We will fear no evil!
Ms. Dorothy, I am praying for Finely and her parents! May god give them all, and you, peace
I have a question… what is the difference between a fear of the Lord and being afraid of God? I know I am supposed to have an awesome fear of God but also… not be afraid of Him? I feel like I am afraid a lot that I am going to mess up and God won’t forgive me or will punish me, and I know that that is not biblical. (thankfully our salvation doesn’t depend on us! Only on God’s mercy that doesn’t change!) How can I balance having an appropriate fear of the Lord and also not be scared? Thank you all for helping me out. I accepted Jesus as my Savior a few months ago and I’m still very much learning and growing in the early stages of my faith. ♡
The devotional reminds me of the promise Jesus gives us about his peace found in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” I love God’s nearness. He is near when things are hard and near when things are going great. He is always with us. I pray I would walk in that truth, even when I can’t feel his nearness.
I have been in moments of unbelief and shear terror of the circumstances and then all the sudden- you have a sense of peace wash over you! In the moment I believed that peace was because I was strong and I was the one in control “keeping my cool” when really it was God the entire time! He was graciously granting me that peace to get through the difficult moments. In a world full of self (selfies, self promotion, and self destructive behavior ) we are missing God. Lord help me to focus on you alone so that I may hear your voice !!!
@ Christina Fowlkes Well Said! Good for all of us to remember! He is a loving God, but we should always have a reverence and tremble for God! He is almighty and powerful, in control. We really don’t deserve Him, as much as we go our own way, and often forget Him until we need Him when our life is a mess!
(I wish we could get the “reply” to work under each comment, and it could notify that person!) Anyone out there that could volunteer this fix to the SRT staff?!
@ Marci Foote— I say a prayer that you will stay strong in the word of God, and that this study will touch you in a very real sense by the Holy Spirit! Keep with it, and you will be amazed when you look back in years to come, of how it was all orchestrated by an amazing God that loves you and has just the right plan to work for you!
I have a great song for you to sing! It is God’s pledge to you, it is called “Dancing On The Waves,” by We The Kingdowm! Here our some of the verses, but her voice is just so beautiful!
God not only wants us not to fear the storms and waves, but to take His hand, and step out in the confidence that He has us!! And then we will be dancing on the waves!
You’re weary from it all
Been running for too long
I’m here to bring you home
I’m reaching out
I’ll chase you down
I dare you to believe
How much I love you now
Don’t be afraid
I am your strength
We’ll be walking on the water
Dancing on the waves———— We The Kindom
@Angie, thank you for the reminder that “God doesn’t see us as we see ourselves, He sees us as the people He knows us to be.” I can be very hard on myself at times because of how I see me – a sinner. But God sees the real me, the redeemed me, the forgiven me! Praise His name! Praising God today that The-LORD-Is Peace!
@Sara D – praying that you will transition well into this different building that you are in and that God will calm all your anxieties.
@Taylor – continuing to pray for you – that you will have peace in your singleness until God brings someone into your life, and for your anxious moments.
@Marci Foote – praying for you today that you will have peace and find your hope in the One who supplies it. (Psalm 39:7)
@Dorothy – praying for Finley, Monica & Chad!
@Kelly Neo – appreciate your prayers – thank you!
Have a blessed Wednesday “Shes”!
Let His peace surround you.
@Marci The Israelites were facing the consequences of their rebellious, sinful actions. Despite all God had done for them they were worshipping false gods right in His face! Just like any parent, when a child disobeys they are punished, however their parent still loves them and is still there for them. As you continue to read you will discover the beauty of the balance between God’s righteous judgement and His faithful mercy. His judgement is fair, It’s actually His mercy that we don’t deserve, yet God in His infinite love towards us is always willing to forgive us. Praying for you during your hard time! God is right there with you
I’ll be honest, I’m in a hard place and I’m doing this study to find hope in the Lord. This passage felt hard to me today. The Israelites didn’t obey so he handed them over for destruction. And all of a sudden Gideon is supposed to believe he’s there? I don’t blame him for his questioning and unbelief. I get that! How to trust and hope that the Lord is still here when you feel handed over to destruction and you don’t feel peace, only despair. Honestly I sympathized more with the Israelites here today and understood Gideons unbelief. Working through this study, just today is a hard one
What stood out to me most today was reflecting on how often I am just like Gideon. Feeling fully unqualified for the tasks the Lord puts before me. But God. He is just waiting for me to humble myself before Him and call on His name. He is with me. He will stay with me. He fills me with peace that can only come from Him. Thank goodness for those But God moments. Praying for you sisters today. That we would walk with our heads held high, confident in the name our God has given us and the identity He calls over us. “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” “Go in the strength you have… I am sending you.” “But I will be with you.” Amen.
Praying for you all, and praying for you @Taylor!! Thankful for SRT, I’ve loved this study, very much needed!! Please pray for me, my job just moved to a new building and it’s definitely a slight downgrade (older/is more stuffy and hot)…I’m already struggling at my job (with anxiety! so this doesn’t look too promising, but we’ll see!! Trying to stay positive and thankful for all I do have. Hope you all have a great Wednesday!
Isaiah 30:18 in the NIV says “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise to show you compassion.” Last year, I read the book “Gentle & Lowly” by Dane Ortlund. This Scripture reminds me of it. There’s so much beauty and goodness in that book. It was helpful for me because I grew up thinking God was a God of more wrath than kindness. To this day, the enemy tries to convince me of that lie. That God intends to harm me instead of prosper me. (Jeremiah 29:11 contradicts the lie). Anyway, Scriptures like this move my heart in passion towards making the world know God is FOR them and not against them… That He LONGS to be compassion and gracious. May we be a people who convince the world of God’s kindness, goodness, and truth.
That “God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26)
God bless us to do His will and make His love known!!
This morning an old hymn came to me: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” He is near. Let us turn to Him in prayer.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
I had to read the rest of Judges 6 to see how this would play out and it is amazing the patience God had with Gideon as he kept asking for signs that God was with him. I was super annoyed reading it. But I love how the spirit convicts us when we become Judgy McJudgers. How many times, directly and indirectly do I ask the same of God, even using the same words as Gideon “God, don’t be angry with me, but can you show me… can you let me know… can you show me a sign…?” This is why I love how Scripture always shows me something new, even if I’ve read a verse before.
Woke up feeling anxious again today and reading today’s devotion helped me feel comforted that God is walking with me through this season. I may not feel peace, but He IS my peace. Psalm 23 is always so good, I will be repeating it to myself all day especially Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Even in my singleness, I lack NOTHING when I have the Lord on my side. Praying for you all and so thankful for this community <3
The nearness of God. That’s what got me through the dark times when scripture felt like swords in my heart and worship music ripped my heart out, and believers didn’t know how to comfort me. When I didn’t think I could ever trust God again, his gentle, patient nearness got me through.
When I began reading about the tragedies befalling they Israelites, my first thought was, there has to be someone who stands out. Who is different. Who is living in faith, even amidst it all. When the Lord comes to Gideon and he was able to hear him, I have to believe that Gideon continued to have faith, even through a culture and time when it was against the social norm. The times we are living in now feel similar – when our culture is so consumed in ourselves and our worldly needs. But can we be different amidst it all? Can we continue to commune with and feel the presence of God even in the destruction around us? I think we can. And even if we aren’t feeling His presence entirely, Timothy reminds us that if we wait in faith, he will show back up again. He will bless us in our faith.
I must say I needed to hear this today because I have been struggling to hear Hod’s voice in the midst of the gossip at work. I have been back and forth about wanting to leave my job and I have been praying for god to lead me on the path he has for me but instead of hearing his voice, I’m to focused on what’s going on around me. My goal today is to focusing on my tasks at work and listen more closely for Gods voice.
I am more how God sees me than how I see myself. God’s view is far more accurate. He will equip me to accomplish His calling on my life. I am His and He is mine. That gives me peace.
“ But God’s reminder of assurance is the same today as it was for Gideon: His peace trumps every reason to fear.” This part makes me think of the song My God is Still the Same. I can get caught up in worldly things & fears, but this is a good reminder that we have the same God Gideon did. Lord help me to stop and listen for you when I feel fear. Sending prayers for those who have asked!
Dorothy – I’m praying for Finley and her family.
From today’s readings, my first thought was that God allowed the Israelites to experience what the pagans had when Israel took over their land. Meaning, when the Israelites moved into the Promised land, they benefited from all of the harvests they had not worked for, a land of milk and honey. As Israel turned away from God, He never broke His promise, the land remained theirs; however, the goods from the land were taken from them, over and over again. Every time they worked, on their own, to grow and harvest the land, the enemy came in and took the harvest away from them. God did not break His promise of the land, but He did allow them to suffer as the pagan’s had when Israel acted like pagans and followed after other gods.
Gideon saw himself, hungry, tired, hiding in a winepress trying to to sift a little grain, defeated. God saw him as a valiant warrior because he was a man tired of self-effort and ready to serve. Humbled to the point that he recognized the strength was not his own. Humbled, he would step forward by God’s might alone. Humbled to the point of leadership in the Lord’s strength. God doesn’t see us as we see ourselves, He sees us as the people He knows us to be. Gideon was called to service and needed to step forward in obedience. The battle, however, was empowered by God alone. The victory, honor, and glory His.
DOROTHY – praying for Findley!
Tameshia’s comment is so true!
“We miss God’s voice when we focus only on what life around us looks like. From our ground-level view, things can seem hopeless and overwhelming. But when God shows us His perspective, we realize things are radically different from how they appear.”
REMEMBER the Lord’s fulfilled promises and trust He will do it again for He IS GOOD.
RUTH LONG – praying for your peace of mind.
K SWENSON – praying that the Lord will give you wisdom and peace for your next steps in treatment.
RACHEL BLESSUM – any update on your friend’s sister?
MARI – how is your SIL Tammie?
AIDAN KEELEY – praying the Lord brings you comfort in you situation.
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – praying for Albert and his friend. Glad Duane is doing better.
Last evening I left work early because Finley, the little girl I take care of, was very sick and her parents ended up taking her to the ER. She had been vomiting most of the day. When she got to the hospital mom text me and said she had just vomited up some flecks of blood. The doctors were keeping her over night. Please pray for Finley and her parents, Monica and Chad Murphy. I will know more later in the day. Thank you sisters.
Peace. Don’t be afraid.