What comes to mind when you think of peace? Maybe you see a location where everything is tranquil in the environment you are in. Maybe it’s in your heart and mind and the feeling is calm and safe and pleasant. I sometimes picture peace as a “weightlessness” in between the cares of this world. A place where all is well.
As I’m writing this, it’s the second week of Advent and the theme is God’s peace that Jesus, His Son, brought to us when He came from Heaven to earth. But in the world we live in, it can seem like the opposite of peace is everywhere as we see wars, oppression, evil, and violence of many kinds. It’s also easy to worry about the “what-ifs” of life (yet 99-100% of them never happen). Worrying about what we cannot control steals our peace every time.
So where is this peace of God? Is it real – or just a feeling that comes and goes? Was it just for a certain time long ago and then it faded away? It’s important to realize that peace is not an emotion. It’s our emotions that come and go and fade away. Peace is different. You may not have thought of it this way before: peace is strong. The peace that comes from God is deeper and wider and higher than any feeling. It’s a “knowing” that HE is in control of all things and it strengthens us deep inside. When we put our trust in Him, He gives us His peace.
I can tell you from my own experience, it is real. I’ll give you just one example out of many from my own life. I gave my heart to Jesus by praying to Him and accepting His forgiveness of my sins when I was four years old. Fast forward to when I was 15 and my Dad died of a heart attack. My Mom and I actually saw it happen. If you’ve been through something this devastating in your life, I don’t have to tell you about the tsunami of shock, devastation, fear, loss, more sadness that you thought you could ever feel and survive, and the list goes on…whether you are a Christian or not. My Dad’s doctor even prescribed some tranquilizers for my Mom and I. We tried one but no more because they could not change the truth and we needed to face it, not numb it.
Then something happened that I will never forget. I was standing in the reception line at the funeral home as people filed past us to give their condolences. It wasn’t a feeling. I knew God was filling me with His peace inside of me, beyond what I could even understand. It made no sense! The image that came to me at that moment was that I was in the eye of a hurricane – that place of calmness when everything around it is spinning out of control. It wasn’t until later I found a verse in the Bible that described what I experienced:
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
That was it! It had nothing to do with what was on the outside. It was in my heart and mind. I didn’t even ask for it, He gave me what I needed when I needed it. I’ve seen this pattern of His goodness throughout my life. What He’s done for me He can do for you too.
Before Jesus went back to Heaven, He said this to His followers:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
True peace doesn’t come to the world through people, it comes from God. That’s why we celebrate His peace at Christmas – and all through the year.
RESET HIGHER: Do you need peace today? Pray and ask Jesus to give you His peace. Choose to give Him what is troubling you. Accept His strength to make a way through it. Know He is with you every step of the way.
