Uhmmm...Excuse Me, Do you Know Where I Can Find My Peace???
All you have to do is watch the news, or scroll through newsfeeds and you quickly realise that peace is an elusive concept in this world. Violence seems to be a growing part of our societies. Even within our families, peace seems to be elusive.
There is a push for people to find their “inner peace” - or in other words to have their ‘emotions’ be in a stable and in balance - a place of heightened ‘happiness’. And it often leads people to behave and think in ways that are inherently inwardly focussed. And it often centres around notions of obtaining what you want, when you want it in order to feel at peace. Many people in this world, especially in westernised societies, are experiencing significant inner turmoil because they are not having their ‘wants and desires’ met in the timeframe that they had envisaged for themselves. Much of this turmoil is being fed by the constant, almost incessant flood of social media images produced by ‘influencers’ who dictate to the masses what they need to look like, what they need to experience, and what they need to have. Society is seeing itself decay due to comparison and envy.
It seems as if the world wants our happiness to be locked up in who we think we are, what we have and what we are experiencing - rather than being grounded in something that is higher, something that is divine. When it goes wrong and we lose our peace is when we are so focussed and motivated about ‘experiencing’ the moment and gaining what we want - those things become the very things we worship, including ourselves. When we worship everything but He who is eternal - God - then we lose our peace, because we can created our own hellish place within us.
In the 10 Commandments Yahweh says,““You must not have any other god but me….You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbour.” (Exodus 20:3,17)
The 10 Commandments are the moral minimum that we should be living by, and God gave them to us for a reason. Our lives and our inner peace come from obeying them.
The first mentioned above - “no other God but me!” statement shows us that we cannot worship, or entertain anything else but Yahweh. To do so is idolatry and will bring us harm. And if this is the case, then why do we put our own desires and wants above our worship of God? Why do we put ourselves in a place of worship, rather than placing our trust and honouring the one who created us?
Then the second, which seems to be of extreme significance today - “Don’t covet your neighbours stuff!!” - trying to keep up with your friends, family or even your neighbours is futile and will only lead to a deep sadness that you cannot control. By coveting what others have, you are not being thankful for what God has blessed you with. You are creating your own storm within your own heart and mind.
The answer is simple - we are fallen sinful people and we need the salvation that only Jesus Christ can provide.
It is no wonder then that we often feel like Job, who said “I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.” (Job 3:26). Especially when we are striving for things that we really don’t need in our lives. Aimless, constant striving for things is a for of slavery. It is a slavery to things and a slavery to selfish desires, which in turn becomes a form of worship when things and experiences become your ‘master’. Psalm 19:8 tells us that “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” - therefore we should follow God’s commands for us, because they will lead us to a better life.
Jesus himself said that, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) - the world gives and it snatches back in a blink of an eye. The world tempts then destroys. It claims you will find peace and happiness when all you gain is pain and suffering. It is a false ‘peace’ and a false ‘happiness’ that are fleeting and pass us by, as if blown away by the wind. The peace of Jesus (who is the Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6) is eternal, and it is satisfying and it is enduring.
Does this mean that we will always feel happy in life? No absolutely not - life is hard - not sure if you’ve noticed that yet? Which is why we shouldn’t strive to be ‘happy’ - that is setting our sights on a constant emotional high, which is not what we need.
Rather we should do what is told to us in Philippians 4:4-9 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
By rejoicing, we are setting aside the troubles we are facing, and setting aside our need for ‘happiness’ and focussing on God, and his perfect will for our lives (even if we have no clue why we are enduring certain things).
If we place our hope in Jesus Christ, and rejoice that he is in control of everything (as the author and finisher of our faith - and as the ‘Beginning and the End!’) then we shall find peace.
Peace…true lasting peace can only come from releasing all our burdens onto the feet of Jesus, and letting him do His thing…His perfect will for our lives.
I pray that as you read this study, you are encouraged to place all your hopes, fears, needs and desires firmly at the feet of Jesus - and that you walk away from them. Jesus knows what you need, he has perfect timing, he has perfect plans for you - don’t lose your peace by trying to create it on your own. Find the perfect peace by living in close relationship with God.