WHAT IS REAL PEACE?

THE SEA OF GALILEE

We will hear what God the lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, to his faithful saints; those who turn to Him in their hearts." Psalm 85:8

There once was a king who offered a prize for all the artists who lived under his kingship. The prize would go to the artist who could paint the best picture reflecting "real peace". Many artists participated in this contest.

The king looked at all of the paintings when the artists were finished, but there was only two that he really liked and he had to choose between the two.

The first painting was that of a calm lake, with towering mountains on all sides. Trees and flowers were in full bloom. Overhead the blue sky glistened with fluffy white clouds and birds glided through the air. All who looked upon this picture thought that this was the best depiction of "real peace".

The second picture had mountains also, but they were rugged and desolate. Above was a stormy sky of black clouds from which rain fell and lightning danced. Down the side of one of the mountains tumbled a foaming waterfall. This painting surely did not reflect peace at all. But when the king looked closer at this painting, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing out of a crack in a rock. In the bush a mother robin had built a nest. And there in the midst of the rush of the turbulent water below sat the mother bird on her nest of delicate eggs.

Which painting do you think won the king's prize? The king chose the second picture. When asked by his court why he chose this painting, the king replied:

"Because," the king said, "peace does not mean that a place will be without noise, trouble, or uncertainty. Peace means that you can be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart."

Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth Thee."

The only real peace we have Dear Lord is in you.