Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Ps. 85:8

God wants to communicate peace to his faithful.

Anxiety and worry have such unignorably loud voices; they clamor and yammer demanding attention. Even worse, though, is their whisperings. Inarticulate wisps of words, more affective than concrete, constantly threatening, disrupting peace of heart and mind.

God’s voice speaks peace, quietly and firmly. It is the internal hum that underlies the noise of worry. God speaks peace to his faithful ones. My heart grows hesitant at this announcement. If knowing God’s peace is dependent upon my faithfulness, I am doomed to worry’s domain.

Then God gracefully interrupts. “My faithful ones are those who turn to me in their hearts.” My heart takes hope. I can do this. I can stop the chaos, focus on Jesus, tune into his peace. I can shut the ears of my heart to any voice but God’s. Peace descends; or maybe I should say peace arises. It is always within me, awaiting my attention, ready to rule my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.