What needs to happen in your life right now for you to know peace? Careful, this is a trick question.
Maybe you can relate to some of these responses:
”If only I had more money, then I would be at peace knowing we have enough.”
“I will be at peace if my candidate is elected into office.”
“Life would be great if only I didn’t have to go through these health struggles.”
Do you know why this is a trick question?
All of these areas where we often look to for peace are outside of us. It’s the world around us. Yes, it may be impacting us directly, but they are the circumstances of life.
As Christians, our peace is not found through the circumstances of life. Our peace is found in Jesus.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:24, CEB)
When we say we need the circumstances of life to change to know peace, what we are really saying is we are still living for ourselves.
We were made to know God and be in relationship with Him. When we know Him, we are made new through the work of Jesus Christ, and in the place where He needs us to be. This is peace. Nothing can separate us from Him.
35 Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
We are being put to death all day long for your sake.
We are treated like sheep for slaughter.
37 But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created. (Romans 8, CEB)
We can look at life through two lenses.
This is my life to live, and I need it to go the way I want it to go for there to be peace.
Or,
This is His life to live through me, and I will trust Him to use me to share His light with the world, no matter what I go through. In Him, I will have peace.
Yes, this may be a bit simplistic. However, the point is the same. Our peace comes from Him, and not the circumstances of life. When you struggle to have peace, ask yourself, what needs to change?
Then turn to God and thank Him for giving you peace, trusting He is at work in all of your life.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt
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