What do you think the word "peace"means? When you hear it, do images of a serene beach with gently crashing waves and a beautiful, clear blue sky come to mind? Or how about a quiet woodland trail with leaves the greenest you've ever seen and birds singing softly as you walk along and take in all the beauty of creation? Or how about a hospital room, where you sit by a loved one's bedside as they cling to the last whisper of life in their weakened body? How about an empty bank account with bills piling up high around you? I'm guessing those last two scenarios are making you wonder "Is she crazy or something?"
These days, the word "peace" seems to be a hot commodity. People search for it, long for it, and go to great lengths trying to attain it, even spending great deals of money on life coaches and books and yoga classes. Even those who claim to be Christians wield certain scriptures like a Swiss army knife, pulling them out whenever they encounter a problem that needs to be "fixed". Scriptures like Philippians 4:7 have become our mantra. We wear it on shirts and necklaces and even get it tattooed on our bodies. And yet many continue to live lives characterized by chaos. We remain, somehow, a society plagued by anxiety, fear, and bitterness. Why? I believe the answer is that it's a heart issue.
There's a story in Acts about a man named Simon (chapter 8). He saw the power of the Holy Spirit through the disciples and was amazed by it. He was so amazed that tried to offer them money to receive the Spirit. He was trying to buy his way into the kingdom and use God's power and love as a tool for his own gain. He was, in a sense, trying to take the easy way. Don't we sometimes do this in our own lives? Isn't this the condition of our society today?
We want to buy the latest Iphone or Apple watch or upgrade our vehicles, TV's, or homes. We want our stuff and we want it fast and easy! (Just think of how quickly we become irritated when the drive through workers take 60 seconds longer than what we're used to. You know you've done it 😉) All this in the hopes that that next greatest thing will be the thing that makes us happy forever. Perhaps you are like me and are a planner/organizer. My "joy" and "peace" is often not found in having stuff but in having control. Few things give me more of a thrill than my homeschool planner filled up neatly with a lesson for each subject and field trips to match.
But when the storms of life hit am I going to run to my planner and find peace in my perfectly organized days? No! I am going to find my peace in running to God and to His Word. There was a time in my life when I tried to find my peace in all sorts of things other than Jesus. And you know what they always brought me instead? More chaos, more pain, more sadness.
You see, what I've learned over the course of my short life is that the peace of God cannot be bought. It is not a class you can take or a book you can read. It is not a chant you can repeat over and over until you make yourself believe it is true. It is found in Jesus Christ and in Him alone. It is found in submitting your life to Christ and forsaking your own way to follow His way. I've tried life my own way and I can testify that it was NOT the right way. But when I turn to God and ask Him for His help to do thing His way, that's when the change of tide comes. And that's where my peace begins.
Romans 5:1 says "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Did you notice it says peace "with God"?? You see, our peace is not a stand alone type of thing. Our peace doesn't radiate spontaneously out of the center of ourselves. The peace we search for must be with God. Since He is the One we've offended with our wickedness and sin, He is the One we must seek peace with. Many are searching for peace in the world but they are searching in all the wrong places.
Paul then goes on to say that "we have an obligation, but not to the flesh to live according to it" but to live by the Spirit. (Romans 8:11-13) He says if we live according to the flesh (meaning if we do whatever we want and not what God wants) we will die. But if (by the Spirit) we put to death the misdeeds of the body, we will live!!
So our peace begins when we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ to forgive us and save us. We are no longer slaves to our sin and no longer carry the burden of the repayment of that debt because Jesus paid it ALL on the Cross. (Colossians 2:13-14) But it continues when we make the daily commitment to stop doing life OUR way and start doing it God's way.
A few months back, my husband and I bought a microwave stand from a local store. (Which is kind of ironic because it was right at that time that we decided to get rid of our microwave.) The thing came in a million pieces with screws and nuts and bolts a-plenty. The task of putting it together could have been completely daunting. However, we calmly and dutifully put it together piece by peace with very minimal mistakes. Why? Because we had the instructions. Written by the very ones who created the piece and therefor knew its purpose, we had the guidance and counsel to get it put together and functioning properly. If we had thrown out the instructions and slapped it together however we saw fit, chances are we wouldn't have a place for our coffee maker and bread bowl right now. 😅
So it is with life. If we don't go to the One who created each of us and therefor knows our purpose, how can we expect to live our lives the right way? God is our Creator. He gave us life and then gave us the "instruction manual" on how to live it properly. How can we expect to enjoy the peace of God and "rejoice in Him always" (Philippians 4:4) if we don't follow His commands? If we continually choose to do things our way instead of His.
Jesus said in the world we will have trouble. You only need to be around for a few hours to recognize there is no shortage of pain and heartache here on earth. People get sick and accidents happen and sometimes we experience great loss and suffering. This is not the kind of lack of peace I am talking about. We will surely experience pain in this life and that's ok. The lack of peace I am talking about comes from a habitual, intentional disregard for God's instructions and commands. Make no mistake, this is totally different than suffering the loss of a child or loosing your house in a fire. For this we can and should run to the arms of Jesus, the God of all comfort.
So how about you? Would you say you your life is characterized by a deep, abiding peace even in the storms of life or would you say your life is more characterized by chaos and discord? If you have been looking for peace in all the wrong places why not come to God right now, right where you are? Confess to Him your sinful ways and ask Him to forgive and help you do things His way. He is ALWAYS ready to forgive the heart that truly seeks His love. 💓
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