The Contented Life Daily DevotionalChikamu

He Will Give You Peace

In 2009, Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh were arrested and sent to prison for spreading Christianity in Iran. They were sent to Evin prison, notorious for its brutality, where they endured threats of execution unless they renounced their faith in Jesus Christ.

The two ladies describe their experience in their book, "Captive in Iran." They share that if it hadn't been for the strengthening of the Holy Spirit and God's grace, they wouldn't have been able to face even one day in that prison. At first, they prayed for a fast release but quickly began to see that God was using them right where they were. They began to evangelize and pray for the other prisoners.

They spent 259 days in that physical prison, witnessing horrendous injustices while simultaneously seeing God's hand at work. While surrounded by trouble and calamity on the outside, Maryam and Marziyeh experienced God's peace and contentment on the inside.

You may not be in a physical prison, but it may feel like you're in a prison mentally, financially, or relationally. Whatever your circumstances may be, God is right there with you. His word reminds you to take heart because He has overcome the world. Jesus' peace is not the peace the world gives. God can work inside of us so that we can have peace even when, on the outside, calamity may be raging.

How do you find His peace in your present circumstance? Draw near to Jesus through prayer and His Word; remind yourself of the goodness of God and reflect on where you have seen His hand at work in your life. When you do these things, His peace will be with you, and you can take heart. The victory is His, and the contentment is yours.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that in You there is peace. Today, I surrender all my worries and circumstances into Your hands. And I ask that the peace of God would guard my heart and mind in Jesus' name. Amen.

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By: Ale Policar