What does it mean for peace to be with you? Is it the absence of suffering, the absence of hardship or oppression? Does it come when we have victory in battle or experience justice? As we read in Judges 6, the people of Israel were now in their own land after hundreds of years of oppression in Egypt. Yet, because they did what was evil in the sight of God, they were overpowered and abused by the Midianites. Their freedom was short-lived, for they were again oppressed by a power they could not fight. The people of Israel were looking to be saved when they decided to call out to God. However, God did not swoop in right away and declare war on his people’s enemies. No, instead God responded by revealing to them that they had turned their back on Him in disobedience and therefore allowed Israel to be brought very low. Maybe this feels familiar to you…it does to me. I can see where God has brought me, what He has provided for me. I know that He is my God, and because of this, I shouldn’t fear other things, like money or man’s approval. Yet, I often have. I have experienced freedom and been empowered to walk in victory, then all of a sudden, my life has turned upside down, or someone has sinned against me. I let fear take over, and I am
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