When Faith DisappointsSample

Roots of Peace

Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died. Jesus experienced so much angst that he sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. He experienced frustration with his disciples and the Pharisees when they didn’t believe and heartbreak when he was forsaken on the cross. He experienced a whole gamut of negative emotions. Yet Jesus was the Prince of Peace.

How should that shape how we define peace?

Paul told the Philippians that God’s peace is beyond human understanding (Philippians 4:7). Emotions or circumstances do not dictate his peace. His peace cannot be controlled by fear. God’s peace allows us to experience painful events and respond from our knowledge of his character, not our understanding of our circumstances. Negative emotions are part of the human experience, but we don’t have to be led by them.

Inner peace is a byproduct of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and our earnest efforts to maintain harmony with all. It is also born from a deliberate choice not to allow anxiety to cloud our consciousness, to present our worries before God in prayer, and to be thankful for the abundant blessings we have already received. As Paul succinctly puts it, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Friend, the road to peace is filled with many bumps, but it is worth the trip. When you do the work of peace and commit to prayer, rest will abide in your soul. The pain you feel will begin to pass and the peace that surpasses all understanding will settle over you. Count on his promise: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3).

Anxiety robs me of sleep, ruins my relationships, and keeps me from experiencing an abundant life. God, please give me the strength to do the work so I can finally experience your peace.