Recently, we started together a gentle, lifechanging and powerful journey with the Holy Spirit on understanding the perks (special benefits) that come with being in the presence of God. Last week we were talking about The Power of Revelation. We saw that revelation is when we are given a deeper meaning of God’s word and who He is through His Holy Spirit. This revelation cannot come from Heaven to you without you being involved in your relationship with God. Think about any human relationship you have been in, did you have to invest your time, heart and even money? Did you harvest what you put in? This also applies to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Giving your time to Jesus will absolutely bring you joy, peace and contentment in this life and the one to come.
Today, let’s talk about another perk that comes with intentionally and consistently seeking God through our one on one with Him reading His word, praising, and worshiping Him; Peace. Peace is the most powerful state I wish anyone to be in. Peace in both difficult and calm seasons, peace in who you are, peace when your name is not attached to any title, peace in your uniqueness, peace in your thoughts, etc.
I would spend the whole day talking about peace as it is one of the best experiences I have gotten since following Jesus. Let’s talk about a story most of us know. The story of Saul, David, and Goliath. The story of David and Goliath is well known and used in so many ways, but God recently grabbed my attention on Saul and Jonathan, whom I didn’t even realize was in that story. Saul was the first King of Israel, He saw David, still young and unarmed, defeating Goliath, who was a giant powerful and armed, and He put him in his army. The bible says that David was favored by God and that “Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.” 1 Samuel 18: 5.
I am sure this was a great moment for all the Israelites. The Bible then says in 1 Samuel 18:4 that Jonathan, Saul’s son took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt. Keep in mind that David was a little shepherd boy and Jonathan a son of the king. After killing Goliath, people came from all over Israel to meet with the King singing:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.” 1 Samuel 18: 7
Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 1 Samuel 18: 7-9 Here lies the essence of the story—the contrasting reactions of Saul and Jonathan towards David. Saul, consumed by fear, saw David as a threat to his reign. In stark contrast, Jonathan, the rightful heir to the kingdom, not only bestowed his possessions upon David but also saved his life later on. Their response spoke volumes about the peace they possessed in their identity and their unwavering trust in God. So much was in play when David was facing Goliath as if he had failed, the Israelites would have bowed down and serve the philistines. David did not give in to worry and fear against that situation, but he stood in his identity in God and fought with a giant. Jonathan did not get jealous and worried about David’s success but instead he celebrated with him, and the bible says that he loved him as himself (1 Samuel 18: 3). These two men were able to be peaceful in their position, title, and role because of their personal relationship with God. The bible says that David was after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), being this close to God allowed him to stand in his identity in God even though others would perceive him as a young shepherd.
Maybe your low self-esteem is tied to what you are identifying yourself with. Maybe you usually compare yourself with others and see their success as your failure not because you are failing but because you forgot whose you are, and who you are in Him. Maybe you are longing for and guiding your heart after a baby, a spouse, finances instead of being after God. Maybe low self-esteem, unforgiveness, anger, bitterness is just there because of something deeper, that you can only get from being in the presence of the Highest, peace. Peace in the storm, peace when experiencing injustice, peace in the valley and on the top. I know this may be hard to hear but from an intimate relationship with Him and a good investment in spending time with Him, you will gain understanding of who you are in Him, your uniqueness which He gracefully showed to us through having a unique fingerprint, the real meaning of Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you” and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:5-7) that is not shaken by any circumstance.
Seeking God with intentionality and consistency opens the door to a profound peace that transcends circumstances. Just as David and Jonathan exemplified, finding peace in our identity and trust in God enables us to celebrate the success of others and stand firm in our unique roles. By investing time in an intimate relationship with the Creator, we gain a deep understanding of our true selves and access the peace that defies understanding.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your holiness and the peace You bestow upon us. We are grateful for Your unwavering love and the uniqueness with which You have created each of us. Grant us peace in our identity, roles, missions, and timing. Help us keep our focus on You, wisely investing our time in Your presence as You are the ultimate treasure. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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