by Leon

Peace is not always something we can find easily. There are many reasons peace can just seem to escape us on a day-to-day basis. We live busy lives and we have chaotic days that seem to steal the peace right from within our hearts. We have worries that refuse to let go of us and fears that refuse to go away. We live in a world that constantly rains trouble after trouble upon us. More than 40 million people in the United States alone, suffer from some form of anxiety.

Finding peace in this age is scarce. Those who do find peace can often feel like this world just robs it from them completely. I know I’ve felt that happen to me personally. In fact, we all have and will continue to until the day this world is one day made perfect by the return of Christ. But until that day we will have to seek peace in our own way. And we must attempt to hold onto it in spite of everything that would seek to rob us of it.

Some find peace in materialistic things like wealth, occupation, relationships, and so forth. Others find their peace in family, love, and perhaps their health. All of these have one common denominator. We cannot find absolute assurance in them. One minute we could have them and the next they could disappear.

In the 2008 economic crash, some of the wealthiest people lost everything they had. This year alone many great people lost their jobs and financial security due to the pandemic. Sometimes even what we believe to be the strongest relationship shatters. Sometimes what we thought was the strongest love, abruptly ends.

Tragic circumstances visit us all, regardless of who we are. We can be rich or poor, famous or a nobody. We can be upright people or the worst scum of the earth. Either way, we will find ourselves face to face with adversity and that which would come to steal our peace.

“so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” – Matthew 5:45

Since Adam sinned this world fell under a curse. We sin and because we sin this world will have pain, heartache, loss. We cannot escape it. Some people believe once you become a Christian all this immediately changes. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The twelve apostles all suffered and died proclaiming the name of Christ.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:27

The difference is found precisely in the words of Jesus. “My peace I give I do not give as the world gives.” In those words is the key to finding peace that can NEVER be stolen from us. We might have days where we feel peace abandoned us, but despite how we may “feel” peace will remain with us regardless.

The peace that comes from God is not temporary. The peace that comes from God is eternal. God is not like us in that He cannot break his promises. God has promised us time after time that if we are His children He will take care of us. Now, what can steal that promise from you? Nothing because not a thing can challenge God to make Him break His promises.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” – Isaiah 26:3-4

Circumstances and events may not always go according to plan. But what can truly bring more peace than the knowledge that the Creator of the universe has our best interests at heart? If we keep our focus on God and His promises we will have assurance and peace that nothing in this life can steal.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Now all of that depends on if you’re a child of God. God respects our free will and if we choose to willingly reject Him that will fall on us. His promises only apply to those who His are adopted, sons or daughters. How do we become adopted into the family? The simple act of placing your faith in Jesus and the work which He did on the cross. We can do nothing to earn our way into the family of God – it’s a free gift that Christ died to give us. We must just repent of our sins and turn to God with a sincere heart. He will hear our prayer.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12