Finding Peace
Scripture: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. (John 14:27)
We all want peace. A mother longs for her tired, fussy child to take a nap so she can have peace. A worker longs for a rushed, important project to be finished so that he can have peace. A weary traveler longs to be home and relax in peace. Wars and rumors of war frighten us and we long for world peace. Yes, the baby sleeps, the project is finished, the traveler returns home, and war is averted—for now. The peace we enjoy in this physical world comes, but then another stressful event overwhelms us.
The spiritual peace that comes from God, however, can always be with us.
Listen to the great apostle Paul tell us about his life. “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28) My life is pretty tame and stress-free compared to his!
But, this same man, Paul, wrote these amazing words to his Philippian brothers and sisters: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
How do we rejoice and find this spiritual peace as Paul did?
Peace in our world is fleeting, but the peace of God guards our hearts now and forever.
Additional verses: Colossians 3:15, John 16:33, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Isaiah 26:3,
1 Peter 5:7, Romans 14:9, Romans 15:13.
Songs: "Be Still My Soul," "It is Well with My Soul," "Peace, Perfect Peace"
We all want peace. A mother longs for her tired, fussy child to take a nap so she can have peace. A worker longs for a rushed, important project to be finished so that he can have peace. A weary traveler longs to be home and relax in peace. Wars and rumors of war frighten us and we long for world peace. Yes, the baby sleeps, the project is finished, the traveler returns home, and war is averted—for now. The peace we enjoy in this physical world comes, but then another stressful event overwhelms us.
The spiritual peace that comes from God, however, can always be with us.
Listen to the great apostle Paul tell us about his life. “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28) My life is pretty tame and stress-free compared to his!
But, this same man, Paul, wrote these amazing words to his Philippian brothers and sisters: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
How do we rejoice and find this spiritual peace as Paul did?
- We find peace when we steadfastly trust in God’s grace and mercy.
- We find peace when we believe in Jesus the Christ, the Prince of Peace.
- We find peace in following the God plan of salvation which brings us in close relationship with God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
- We find peace when we are thankful for all of our blessings and are content.
- We find peace in prayer.
- We find peace in reading the Scriptures.
Peace in our world is fleeting, but the peace of God guards our hearts now and forever.
Additional verses: Colossians 3:15, John 16:33, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Isaiah 26:3,
1 Peter 5:7, Romans 14:9, Romans 15:13.
Songs: "Be Still My Soul," "It is Well with My Soul," "Peace, Perfect Peace"