No bickering between the kids. No stress with the husband. No shopping list left undone in a perfectly-decorated house.
So if peace is a fruit of the Spirit, why do I often feel I lose mine? And where does mine go when things happen like my computer dying—the very week I was studying peace?
Shalom
The Jews in the Old Testament called it shalom. They used it as a common greeting (Judges 19:20) and still do today. Deeper than our typical “How are you?”, shalom was more a blessing of “May you be prosperous in all things.”
But in the New Testament, peace (eirene) took on even greater depth. Did you know peace is mentioned in every New Testament book except 1 John? Notice the apostle Paul coupled it with grace in his greetings—“Grace and peace to you.” And rightly so.
Through grace, we receive the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) from the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). Christ not only left his peace with us (John 14:27), but he himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
More than a feeling
So when circumstances turn chaotic and gifts are still unbought and hearts are troubled by broken technology, look elsewhere for peace. Your peace was never meant to rest in those things anyway.
Because your peace—peace the world can’t give—is more than a feeling.
It’s a person.
And in the person of Jesus Christ, your deepest peace can’t be disturbed (John 16:33). It’s secure. If you’ve come into relationship with him, even when your outside is stressed, remember you have a wellness deep in your soul you can’t even understand and can’t worry away.
Peace in the presence
God’s peace is above your intellect—don’t try to figure it out (Philippians 4:7). You won’t succeed.
But you can trust that it’s there. That he is there.
Because peace isn’t the absence of trouble.
Peace is the presence of God.
Even when the dog is barking and the car is overheating and the laptop is dying, God’s peace runs deeper still.
Trust him to guard it for you. So you can worry less; worship more.
Think on good things, not on figuring things out.
God’s got you covered.
He’ll keep giving you grace.
And he’ll always be your peace.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2
* * *
What makes you lose your peace?
What helps you find it again?
REVISED FOR THE ARCHIVES
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Do Not Depart
