Peace

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! ~Luke 2:14

In this time of pandemic, political turmoil, race wars, social class differences and family dysfunction; where do we find peace? Some may think peace comes from the mind. If we just think happy thoughts then we will have peace. Others think it comes from substance. We can drown our sorrows in alcohol feel at peace.

The peace I know comes from God (see Romans 15:13). There are times when I was going through a struggle with people around me. I wanted the difficult person to just stop being hurtful. But I knew I couldn’t control the person. I had to pray to God for peace in my soul. During times of struggle, I would repeat the scripture: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 The apostle Paul, a disciple of Jesus, wrote this scripture while serving time in prison. He was arrested for sharing his faith in Christ. I mean many of us have been through difficult struggles, but very few have gone to prison. When I say this verse, I can picture Paul sitting on a cold ground in a jail cell and I am given hope that if he had strength during that ordeal, I can find strength in mine.

The reason I know that peace comes from God is because He created me (see Genesis 1: 27). It makes sense that the Creator would give us Peace. But there is also an enemy of God prowling around on Earth (see Revelation 12:9). Satan tricks and manipulates people in order for them to not follow God and receive the peace He gives.

God understood that we had fallen into sin; so He sent Jesus to save us. This is why we has Christians love the celebration of the birth of Christ. Because we know that by accepting Jesus, He has brought us back to close relationship to God in order to fight the sin the separates.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, I encourage you to do so and find the peace which surpasses all understanding (see Philippians 4:7). This does not mean that all your troubles will go away; but rather God will give you the strength to endure them (see Matthew 24:13).