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Peace That Passes Understanding The greatest search of the human heart is the search for peace. The longing for inner peace is the root of many of our actions, whether conscious or not. Human beings are students of the search for peace, but they are not very good learners. We search for peace in bottles, relationships, sexuality, food, knowledge, drugs, parties, and a thousand other places. In spite of our life long searches, we continue to look in barren places, falling prey to loneliness, depression, discouragement, disappointment. The sign on the door might say “happy hour” but inside you will find the stressed-out, lonely, pretending people. Many times we face darkness in our own hearts because we have not turned to the only source of peace – we have not believed that He will be our peace.
The truth is that God alone can give us peace. God loves me and knows where I am every second of every day. God is bigger than any of the problems I am facing in my life right now. God will never leave me, turn his back on me, reject me, or withdraw his love for me.
But many people feel that there is something wrong with them. We too often buy into the “if only” philosophy. If only I were thinner … had nicer clothes… drove a Jaguar…. made more money. But none of these things can give us what we crave – they leave us empty. Until we have peace with God we will never experience true peace in this life. God is Jehovah Shalom – the God of Peace. He wants you to have peace in your life. Sin destroys our peace. When we sin…
*We are self-centered / drift farther from God *We reject need for His presence in our lives *We follow our selfish desires rather than listening to the voice of our Abba. A word from the Prince of Peace: “My peace I give you; not as the world gives…” (John 14:27) The world offers peace that is a mirage. The peace that God offers is truly real. There are four clear signs of God’s peace.
I. GOD’S PEACE TRANSCENDS CIRCUMSTANCES God’s peace gives us survival power for the realities we face. 1 John 4:4 “…The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
II. GOD’S PEACE SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING
Could we find peace in a prison? Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” What prisons do we find ourselves in … do we feel trapped or that we have no where to turn? We cannot figure out God’s peace, how it operates, but it is certain.
III. GOD’S PEACE IS EXTENDED TO ALL HIS FOLLOWERS. “The Bible has more than 300 verses about peace. From cover to cover, God’s Word presents the resounding truth: God wants you to be at peace with Him, and through your peace with Him, to have peace within your own heart, and as much as
IV. GOD’S PEACE IS INTENDED TO BE AN ABIDING STATE OF BEING.
The Greek word for “peace” means to “bind together” something that has been broken or disjointed. Alienated men and women … feeling disconnected from each other and God … can find a way to unity and wholeness. The word for Peace also refers to a prevailing sense of quietness and rest in a person’s heart.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Conclusion: We will find trouble in this life, that we already know. What we may not know is that God’s Spirit is available to give us peace – if we will only turn to Him. True inner peace can only come when we have a peaceful relationship with God.
“So may peace rain down from Heaven, Like little pieces of the sky, Little keepers of the promise,
Resource: Finding Peace by Dr. Charles Stanley |