“…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7, NKJV
Much hullabaloo is made around the word “peace.” We hear cries for world peace, individual peace, family peace, peace in the Middle East, and the list is endless. Every person, even those who suffer from forms of mental illness (perhaps they especially) long for peace though one may have a difficult time expressing their need; such expressions are seen in our drug-ridden communities across the globe. Recently, I heard a wise person say, “Peace is not an entitlement.” I must admit my ears perked up. Maybe like me, you have considered peace, like oxygen, as something that exists until being disturbed by some outside agent. To share some personal insight, my desire is not to trivialize the human need for peace, rather I hope that by seeing it differently you may find strength in overcoming the absence of peace in your life.
Firstly, you and I must understand that the Author of peace is Almighty God, the Creator of all things. If we do not have peace with God, we will not have peace in any part of our existence; the perfect example of this is world peace. Where on planet earth has any nation enjoyed permanent peace? The answer is nowhere. Every tribe and nation must fight for peace, which may sound like a contradiction, yet proof is seen throughout history books. Ronald Reagan famously coined the phrase, “Peace through strength.” We seek peace in our communities where we live, work, and have our homes. Family life is bombarded by outside forces that bully their way in to cause chaos, a sure enemy to peace. Finally, the individual person craves peace, which brings us full circle back to our relationship with God. If we do not know God, we will not know and understand His peace.
Since the beginning of time, Satan, the enemy of every human being has been hard at work trying to make us think that love, joy, and peace are innate to the human experience. If we believe this deception, when it is absent we are in danger of looking for it in the wrong places. From the Book of John 14:27, Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (NLT). Jesus said it Himself, “…peace of mind and heart…are a gift,” not an entitlement, and the gift is from Him, Jesus.
If you want “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” look to Jesus Christ.
For deeper understanding, read John 14, and receive peace.