“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
Ephesians 2:14

by J.E. Berry
Guest Contributor

Have we filled the space where the peace of God should be resting in us with too much stuff? Too many things to do? Have we unconsciously told our beloved Father that we are more equipped to bring about peace for ourselves by attempting to work for it? Or have we become so desperate for peace that we can’t even recognize it anymore? Because we have attempted to create it through accomplishment.

We stroll around carrying weight that was never meant for our level of strength. Our fragile jars are limited and shifty at best. The weight that we bear is usually far too much for us to carry in the vessels that we have, leaving us anxious and desperate for relief. Desperate for quiet, rest, and peace.

The peace that we have been given seems to flee under the heaviness of all that we tote. Though we continue to strive for it by marking our many responsibilities off the list of to-dos. We end up in a vicious cycle of “trying” and really accomplishing nothing of spiritual worth.

So, it would seem, that we may have a recognition issue that we are dealing with.

Maybe we have struggled to come to a place of recognizing that we are fragile jars of clay in need of a powerful God.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the
surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7

Maybe we have placed far too much confidence in our own ability and not enough confidence in our incredibly capable Father.

Maybe the peace that we are looking to wrap around us is found in the humility developed in proper perspective and assignments.

When we refuse to assign ourselves the position of peace-creators and assign ourselves the position of peace-carriers, we can bear what was meant for us to bear and allow the power of the Spirit that lives in us, through Christ, to carry the heavy stuff.

Jesus is Himself our peace, and when we look upon His face instead of at our list of obligations to find accomplishment, we find the peace that abides in us as we abide in Him.

Recognizing our frail and fragile state – considering the God who enables us – humbles our hearts and offers us the great opportunity to trust Him and be covered by the peace that is in Him.

We are powerless and peace-less without Him.

My friend, today, let us lay our burdens down at the feet of the One who is powerful enough to carry them and accomplish them. Let us offer our cracked and chips jars of clay to the Father who fills them while we position ourselves to be carriers of the peace that was bought for us.

Dear God, please forgive us for attempting to work for what You have already purchased for us. Father help us to face you before we face our obligations and checklists. We need You to carry all that we have wrongfully bared. Today we choose to give up the heavy stuff for Your light burden. Release us from expectations that surround us and wrap us in your glorious peace as we trust in You. In Jesus name, Amen

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J.E. Berry is a speaker and the author of The Truth About Happiness: Exchanging the falsehood of happiness for Christ’s lasting joy. She is a wife and mother of five children. J.E. has a heart for outreach and seeing people come to know freedom through a relationship with Christ Jesus, specifically women who have yet to see their God given destiny because of lingering bondage. As an author and speaker, she explores things that hinder us from moving forward in our walk with Christ. Such as people pleasing, unhappiness, un-forgiveness and much more, to try and lend a hand in unveiling the culprits so that we can move forward in victory. She carries this same passion into each area of ministry she is active in.