I have been struggling with several areas of technology lately.  It just seems like one piece of equipment after another fails me in some way, or some avenue of using technology like the web doesn’t work like it is supposed to.  And that irritates me!  If I’m not careful I can get grumpy and out of sorts when these things happen.

Actually, that happened to me the other day here in the office.  I was trying to do something online with our staff, related to our website, and one thing after another didn’t work right.  Either the wireless network would go away, or the site I was working on didn’t respond like it should, or other things just would not work like it should.  And that kept me from being able to do some things with staff that we really needed.  I got completely frustrated and did not keep calm and just carry on.  Today I have tried to ask everyone I could to forgive my attitude during that meeting, for being so upset and letting it show and affect the atmosphere in the room.

So, I have been thinking and praying about all of this, and the Lord reminded me (as I was leading a Bible study at church last night) that when I lose my cool or let something like technical glitches upset me, it is because my focus is off.  The reality of my life, in Christ as a believer in him, is that HE has to be my peace.  I can’t just depend on him to give me peace when in my flesh I want to get upset.  I have to let Him BE my peace no matter what my situation, and no matter what is, or isn’t, working like I want it to.

Paul said in Ephesians 2:14, “For he (Jesus) himself is our peace…”  That means to me that not only is Jesus my peace in regard to my sin that has been removed and the dividing wall between me and God has been torn down.  It means that my peace all through life has to be found in my relationship to Jesus, rather than whether my situation at any given moment is “good” or not, “pleasing” or not.

In my struggles with technology or any other area of life that is not what I hoped, and not all I would like, I am learning again that if I keep my focus on Jesus I can be at peace within.  Jesus promised us that he was giving us peace that is deeper than worldly experience.  He said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. (And listen to this) Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” (John 14:27, HCSB)

Okay, I give in, and I give up – I am going to once again turn myself over to the Lord Jesus Christ who lives in me by his Spirit.  I am going to once again make this decision to let Him be my peace, and let His peace reign in my life.  I know it is a choice I have to make over and over again, but it is not something I can do.  He must do it in me, and in you.  What I am deciding again is to let Him be to me, and in me, what He already is — My Peace!

Thank you Lord.