"SOME QUIET TIME, PLEASE"

Life in Grace Series

Many times, I longed for some solitude and I though that solitude will come if I do some retreat. At times, I longed to have lesser work loads so I can have more time in peace. For a long time, I have defined peace in solitude, I have defined serenity in lesser work loads. But this pandemic has challenged all my definition of quiet times. More than stopping and ceasing work, a quiet time is truly a condition of my heart and it is a condition of my mind. Solitude is not in being alone in a cozy environment but it is in being comfortable and grateful with my existence, with my thoughts, and my purpose. Serenity is a state of mind more than where I am. Peace is a condition of my being more than being in the place where I want to be.

I realized that serenity, solitude, and peace are not things I should sought for. The more I chase them, the more they just become so illusive. These things are not for us to pursue, I conclude. These things are gifts to us. These are given to us freely. Our serenity, solitude, and peace are not found in the ideal job, the ideal workplace, the ideal people, and the ideal status. These are actually treasures given to us when we are finally found by the Owner of our hearts. When we are found by the hands who molded us and has given His life for us, it is where all these will come and when they come they come flooding. Peace will come flooding into your soul that your busyness becomes an oasis of serenity and solitude, your workloads become a fountain of exuding calmness.

Jesus is the Prince of peace. If you notice in the new testament many times when He encountered the troubles of humanity, His responses were "Peace be still" and "Peace be with you." We look for peace in somewhere else but the Bible is very clear WHO IS OUR PEACE, Jesus is our peace. Jesus' presence in our hearts gives us that peace that is above all understanding. This is the kind of peace that comes amidst a storm, an uncertainty, an insecurity, and an instability. This peace penetrates in your darkness, troubles, and pains.

I am confident that amidst your pains, struggles, and troubles, Jesus is seeking to reach you. Jesus will never stop looking for you. He will not stop until You will receive His peace. He will not stop until You will have your quiet time, your quiet rest in His loving arms.

We are not designed to seek peace, we are designed to receive it as a gift from our Creator and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Real peace is finding your meaning, your purpose, and your reason for existence in the Hands of your Creator. Apart from Jesus, there is no peace.