May 29 2009
Finding Peace in Times Like These
The struggle for peace often seems endless, doesn’t it? In this life, we have ordinary, everyday stresses, along with life-changing heartaches that seem humanly impossible to cope with.
We also have many ways of dealing with stress. Prescriptions of tranquilizers and antidepressants are being written and filled in ever increasing numbers. Many go shopping to fill the void where peace should be, thinking they’ll feel better, only to realize the bill will arrive in thirty days. Some of us travel, others entertain, sleep more, read, or rent movies to lose themselves and forget their lack of peace. Some go to the extremes of taking street drugs or getting high in some other way.
So where is real peace to be found? Only in the person of Jesus Christ. Scripture says, “He is our peace.”
How can that be? Well, in the beginning God created Adam and Eve with everything they could possibly need, and for a time they lived in utter contentment and peace, secure in their place in God’s divine order. But sin brought a quick end to that sense of security, and we still struggle with that problem today.
Right now it looks like our world is being turned upside down, and it is. But a search of the Bible shows us that this is not the first time such a thing has happened, and whether we believe it or not, it is not taking God by surprise. Nothing ever takes God by surprise. All throughout history kingdoms have fallen, dynasties have crumbled, and it appeared as though it was the end of the world. Yet the people of God were able to find their peace knowing God is not shaken by what happens on earth.
God is sovereign. He has everything under control whether it looks like it or not. In fact, He is the Master orchestra conductor, the one who works the sour notes into the ultimate exquisite concerto where mankind is concerned. And in the end, He is the only place of peace.
Think about it. How often have you done something or spent money unnecessarily to find that elusive peace you were seeking? When our spirits are in turmoil, we feel fearful, and our sense of security is threatened. We lash out at each other trying to regain our equilibrium, only upsetting the balance further.
So if we’re counting on our stock portfolios or our jobs, or our looks or our ability to generate income to keep us afloat and secure, it’s time to re-think that notion, because soon everything we’ve held dear will either lose value or become unsellable, put on a shelf indefinitely to collect dust.
And if that happens where will we find peace then? There is no place of peace except in the Person of Jesus Christ. But to attain that peace, you and I are required to come to God with repentant hearts, confessing our sin, exchanging our agenda for His, willing to live for God, perhaps for the very first time, instead of merely living to please ourselves. There’s the rub. We like living for ourselves and having the last word. In fact, as Americans we pride ourselves in doing things our way and we rebell at the idea of being told what to do.
The point here is, our search for peace is hopeless unless we go to the only source of peace, and make our peace with Him.
Today is the day of salvation. The hiding place of peace is found only in Christ, whom Scripture calls our only ”shelter in the time of storm.” So if you’re looking for peace and are ready to give up everything you hold dear to get it, you’ve come to the right place in Christ.
Your mind may try to convince you that you’re giving up everything to get it, but Scripture says we are, in essence, only exchanging filthy rags for a robe of righteousness, and our control for a place in the very family of God.
Isn’t that more than a fair trade? Come to Jesus today. Confess your sins to God, admitting that you can’t save yourself, and asking Him to come into your heart and make you brand new. At that point, the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace, and you will find that long sought-after peace once and for all.
Because of His great love,
Nancy
