The Pace of Peace

Yesterday, I posted about a place of peace, but when I revisited some early notes, I realized I had left out a letter. Instead of “a place of peace,” I had typed “a pace of peace.” The pace of peace is just as important as the place of peace—or, as concluded yesterday, the position of peace.

We think we find peace when we minimize. When our pace is quick, we can feel rushed and crowded. We can respond out of pressure instead of intention. But it’s not just our pace that’s the problem. It’s the choices that led to the pace. I have experienced peace in chaotic, crowded, busy situations and seasons. Because peace is more about a position than a situation with specific parameters, we find peace in the person of God, not just a specific place or pace. Our relationship with him determines our position of peace.

Can we experience peace without him? I think we can experience peace and fail to acknowledge the source of it. We can refuse to see God or trust him, but that doesn’t take away his provision and presence. So, how do we best make decisions that invite us into a pace of peace? We use more than our own judgment. We do more than Google best time management strategies. We let God decide. Of course, I realize God doesn’t immediately prompt us with a clear answer to every single inquiry, but as we know God more deeply, we understand a little more about receiving cautions and encouragements.

Not every gut feeling or common sense is on target. Not every priority we know is consistent with God’s character is what we can focus on. There’s a lot of good to be done; we cannot say yes to every good thing. And even when we say yes or no to the right things at some point, we don’t get blanket directions for the rest of our lives. What we get is stuck, stubborn, and stale.

God doesn’t change, but our relationship with him changes us. We unlearn and relearn all the time—if we’re wiling—including what pace is right for us in the moment. If you feel overwhelmed, go to him. If you feel bored and minimized, go to him. But don’t expect him to respond exactly the way you want. Being overwhelmed might take a while to untwist, and in the end, your routine might look similar, but your approach to and mindset in it changes. Being bored and minimized isn’t about finding activity but determining the right response. You might also need to learn how to steward the stillness and inactivity well before moving forward.

Seek the pace God wants you to have, filled with or emptied of the things he says, placing yourself in a position of peace. It’s a process that never ends—but never does his peace.