ENJOY GOD’S PEACE
Psalms 119:165 NIV
[165] “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
Peace is another absolute necessity for our foundation, without which life would be intolerable in an uncertain world. How can anyone exist, let alone thrive when everything we hope in is crumbling around us? There is nothing that can provide security for us…money and wealth can be here today and gone tomorrow; people closest to us can be unfaithful and betray us; our government is fickle and failing, working only to secure itself and its power over the people. What do we have left to cling to that will be a safe haven?
Even God’s Word strikes a sombre note.
Isaiah 48:22 NIV
[22] “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”
Peace! What is peace?
I found an unusual definition of peace on Pinterest.
“Peace is a furious serenity that refuses to submit to chaos.”
Wow! That says a lot!
The only way to refuse to submit to chaos is to choose to entrust oneself to someone or something that can never fail to keep one safe and secure in the midst of chaos.
Who or what is that “someone” or “something” that can provide indestructible peace?
Let’s unpick this question bit by bit by finding out what the Bible says about peace.
First, who is the source of peace?
Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
[20] “Now may THE GOD OF PEACE, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, [21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
That’s clear, isn’t it? God is the source of peace because peace is who He is!
To confirm…
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NIV
[23] “May God himself, THE GOD OF PEACE, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
There is only one source of peace, God Himself. He is the one who is not only peace but can also give His peace to those who believe in Him.
Jesus promised…
John 14:27 NIV
[27]”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Real peace, then, comes from God through Jesus, who is the only source of true peace.
Second, why and how can we experience God’s peace?
Why? The Bible tells us that we have peace with God because He has settled the sin problem…
Romans 5:1 NIV
[1]”Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ…”
How? We have the peace of God when we give Him all our anxieties…
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
[6] “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Once we have experienced this amazing peace that nothing in the world can give us or take from us, what can we do to maintain this peace? Our arch enemy, the devil, will do everything in His power to disturb our peace by firing his lies at us. Fear, accusation, mistrust are all part of his arsenal.
Our defence is simple.
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
[3] “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. [4] Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
God Himself will maintain His peace in us when we trust in Him, when we refuse to submit to chaos because we are convinced that He is in charge.
Then our verse,
Psalms 119:165 NLT
[165]”Those who LOVE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS have great peace and do not stumble.”
Through the reassurance of God’s Word that puts all our topsy-turvey circumstances into perspective, we keep His peace in us intact. Our minds must be fortified by what the Lord Himself says about us and our circumstances, and we must trust Him and what He says rather than what seems to be.
Then, come what may, we can never be shaken from our firm foundation, the solid rock of peace, the guardrail against falling into the chaos that is happening around us.