Hope in the Night (A 30-Day Reflection on Anxiety and Fear)

Twenty-Ninth Night: May the Peace of God be with You

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."
- Isaiah 26:3

~~~

Reflection:

The world where we lived is pretty much the same as the world where Jesus lived thousands of years ago. There were hostilities, territorial disputes, plagues, famines, poverty, political and religious divisions, differences of status, as it is today. Peace will never come on earth, even by military and political alliances, no matter how hard nations try. "Man cannot produce peace; he can only disturb it," as Paul Maxwell had written. Yet, into exactly that kind of world, Jesus came as the Prince of Peace.

Have you not known? A person who has no peace treasured it in his heart and mind. It is so precious that they often search for better situations, better places and things thinking that they could find peace there - all in vain. Although many longed for it, they didn't know where to find it.

The Word of God speaks about a peace from God that comes through Jesus Christ. In John 14:27 the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Was there a time when in spite of what was happening around you and after you prayed to God, you found an unexplainable peace in your heart? That is because God places peace within your heart in a supernatural way that only He could do.

We experienced an unexplainable measure of well-being and contentment, and this unexplainable experience is the result of the fruit of the Spirit planted inside us. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) One thing that most Christians do is they try to examine and explain God's peace. Let us not do that. Instead, let us enjoy it.

Is it available to all - nonbelievers and believers, those who were not in the faith and those who are in the faith, alike? Romans 5:1,10 stated, "(v.1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

The peace with God is different from the peace of God. Through Romans 5:1 and 10, we were taught that the peace with God happens when we, as enemies of God, were reconciled with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace of God is given to those who surrender everything to Him, including your life. This was mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7.

Therefore, the peace of God is only available to the one who has accepted the invitation of Jesus Christ to live at peace with God, surrendering to live life on the grace that God offered and living without hostility toward His Law and will. That's the beginning of the true peace we are looking for.

Each and every one of us looked for a peace despite the chaotic surroundings or an absolute peace where there is no chaos anymore. Peace is more than the absence of chaos. It is not a promise that you will have no trouble in this world at all. Peace is where the presence of Jesus is whatever the danger, problem or situation that surrounds us at the moment. Peace starts in our heart, when we make things right with God.

We will not find the peace of mind until we are at peace with God. Unless we have Jesus Christ in our lives, we will not be peaceful within ourselves nor can we live peacefully with others.

I remember someone asking me, "How can all of us attain this undisturbed peace?"

Repent. Ask forgiveness for our sins and believe that God forgave us. Accept. Receive Jesus Christ in your heart and mind and soul. Live for Him. Live with Him. Make things right with God.

“And of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7)

~~~

Prayer:

Dear Lord God, thank You for providing me a chance to have peace with You. Thank You for such opportunity, to have an eternal life with Your Son Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to the day that I will be witnessing His glory and honor, worshipping His Name, forever and ever. Amen.