Stumble Proof Peace

Years ago a gentleman called me to make a counseling appointment. When we met, I could see that he was very troubled about something. “Pastor, is it possible to have peace in our hearts? Every turn I take seems troublesome, creating turmoil in my heart. I am upset all the time. I just want to have some peace. Is that possible?”
I responded by saying “Sir, do you love God’s Word?” While he looked at me with a puzzled expression, I turned to our verse for this week.
Those who love Thy law have great peace; and nothing causes them to stumble.”   Psalms 119:165
I told him that people who love God’s Word experience great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
We had an in-depth discussion about how we can experience and enjoy God’s peace daily. After praying together, he left less troubled and more hopeful that life can turn around when we turn to God’s Word and receive His peace.

Peace is important in our lives. Peace is pivotal to healthy and productive living. The more I mature (that means the older I get!) the more I value peace. Peace in my mind and heart.

David endured some very peaceless periods in his life. He was stalked by King Saul, shamed and haunted by his sin with Bathsheba, he warred continually with the Phillistines, was disrespected and driven away by some of his children. No wonder David wrote about “great peace” and how to have it.

The verse starts with “Those.”  Who are those anyway? “Those” are the people who “love Thy Law.” People who love God’s Word and live their lives according to it experience two tremendous blessings in their personal lives.

First, they have GREAT PEACE. Not just peace, but GREAT peace! The peace they experience is the peace of God that comes from the God of peace (Philippians 4:5-9). Great peace is peace that is greater than our problems. When life is hard to understand and makes little sense, the peace of God that passes all understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) floods our hearts and garrison’s our minds. Great peace is greater than the troubles of life because God is great.

• Great peace, God’s peace, belongs to those who cherish and obey his Word.

Second, they will not stumble in life. The King James Version states “they will not be offended.” The Hebrew meaning is this: life is not a stumbling block to those who love God’s Word and have His peace in their hearts. Life will not offend them in any way. Note the word is “nothing.” I looked up the word and nothing means NOTHING! Nada! Zip! Zero!
There isn’t anything whatsoever that can cause a person to stumble who loves God’s Word. God’s great peace will keep offense at bay because God’s Word produces peace.

This verse has meant a lot to me over the years. It is so easy to stumble. We are so easily offended. Why? It is because we focus on life instead of God’s law. We are robbed of inner peace because we do not take a stand to stand on God’s Word when life tumbles around us. Life outside of God’s Word cannot produce peace.

Loving God and His Word will always produce peace. Great peace. When I guard my peace with God’s Word, I live in a stumble free zone.

I love having God’s peace in my heart. In all honesty, the best moments in my life come when I am walking in His “great peace.”

I am working on growing up in some areas of my life. One is not to be offended by what life brings to my plate. Another is not to stumble over things that God’s Word says I have victory over. This verse says that nothing causes us to stumble.

Nothing includes Satan’s spiritual attacks, people who offend or disappoint me, adverse circumstances that toss me a curve ball, challenging situations that are out of my control, setbacks that delay my dreams, or any of the stuff that life is made up that tries to throw me for a loop as I seek to fulfill God’s will for my life.

I have found that I experience great peace and I do not stumble when I love God’s Word and walk by faith and obedience to that Word everyday.

How about you my friend? Do you crave God’s peace? Do you love His Word? Do you live your life according to His law and promises? Is life a series of stumbling blocks to you? Or is your life stumble-proof in Christ?

Those (that is you and me!) who love God’s law will have God’s peace and will be stumble free! Hallelujah!

“The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee.”
                                        Isaiah 26:3

“Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let be fearful.’’                                         John 14:27 ​

A Word For Your Week: Lasting peace comes from loving and living God’s law.