Peace??... What are you talking about? If I ever find any it only lasts for a very short time. Why can’t life be simple as it was when I was ten years old?
There is one thing we all know as we get older; life seems like one problem after another. They say that if today is free from problems or trials that means you just came out of a trial or you are about to begin another one. There is one thing I know, we are always going to have to deal with problems or trials on a daily basis, so how are we to find peace in a loud chaotic world?
I’ve found that if I focus on the past I will become depressed, if I focus on the future I will become very anxious. The best way for me to begin to find some peace is to take one day at a time. At least I am trying to be a “one day at a time” person.
Peace, whether it’s peace of mind, peace of heart and soul, or inner peace, is maybe the most elusive thing to obtain. Man has tried since the beginning of time to find peace. He thinks that wealth, the right job, family, the way they look, or maybe just checking out from life will give him peace and satisfaction. Man will pursue all avenues to find this peace that seems so hard to find. The list could go on and on, but peace that is everlasting always seems just out of reach.
When Jesus says in John 14:27 “my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you”. We all have found out that if this world gives any peace it is so temporary that it feels like we have no peace in this world. I believe that is what Jesus is referring to when he says the “peace” he gives is different. His peace can be everlasting, always present, never-ending. The Bible talks about this peace or uses the God of peace, Prince of peace as many as 450 times.
At one time in my life, my inner man was in such turmoil from anxiety and depression that I felt like the only way out was to commit suicide. It was at that point that I personally met this Man called Jesus. The Jesus who, up to that point had only been a storybook character. I began to get a taste of what peace might look like. I had found the source of peace and it wasn’t from this world. Peace was still hard to find, but if I focused on Jesus the things of this world would become strangely dim. Also, when I began to focus on the things that were important instead of things that were not, the gift of peace Jesus talked about in John chapter 14 became more evident in my life.
I then began to recognize the things that robbed me of peace. Things like trying to control things in my world that were realistically out of my control. When I was around negative, complaining people or when lack of patience daily would overtake me, peace became much harder. Another thing was when I compared myself or life to someone else’s. Last, was when busyness became so much that I was distracted all the time. There might be other things that you need to recognize for your life, but for me, these were the main things that robbed me of peace.
It has taken me many years, failures, and trials to find out that the only REAL peace can be found in Jesus. When I focus on Jesus, when I trust in Jesus, when I build my life on Jesus, and when I count my blessings, the peace that passes understanding becomes obtainable.
What are you chasing to fill you with peace, the things of the world or Jesus?
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Isaiah 26:3
Try this Song:
Million Little Miracles by Elevation Worship and Maverick City
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
-QUINN CONLEY