“At Peace, With God”

Tuesday, July 04, 2023

BIBLE READING: Romans 5.1-5; Philippians 4.6-9

What does peace look like? For some it is sitting on a beach watching the waves roll in or being on a secluded mountain watching the sun rise. For others peace is a quiet moment at home when the house is clean, and the kids are asleep. For many, peace is the settling of coming home after a trip or enjoying the embrace of a loved one.

In a world fraught with stress and struggles, everyone longs to enjoy the settling of the soul. These scenes render snapshots of the effects of peace; but these are shallow glimpses of a deeper desire. You don’t find peace running away from problems because they must eventually be dealt with. Peace is only possible when reality is considered, and a solution presented that will last.

This is the foundation of our faith, through the gospel; that God has allowed for peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5.1). Jesus is our source of peace (Ephesians 2.14), and his death and resurrection are the focal point of our peace that substantiate and inform our belief (Romans 4.24-25). These choices demonstrate God’s desire for our peace; but the peace he offers is directed at our relationship with him NOT at our circumstances or with this life.

This is not peace like the world sees it. The peace many seek is often short-lived and superficial because it is thoughtless of this relationship. When many say peace what they really mean is, “I want things to be fine right now.” It is easy to become fixated on the present and not see the greater needs we have. Sickness, struggle, and death are realities of this world everyone will face. Escapism and temporary reprieve will not change that. We can enjoy the pleasure of the temporal because of God’s grace, but the fact is the things of this world are passing away.

To have peace we must be grounded in things beyond this life. As the song says, “Time is filled with swift transition, none on earth unmoved can stand, build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand.” Ultimately, peace is a choice we make to be reconciled to God through Jesus. It comes from our practice of prayer and discipline of the mind (Philippians 4.6-9). It is deliberate choices from a settled confidence in what is and what is to be because God has told us. We can be at peace, with God. This is what settles our hearts to endure hard circumstances, love difficult people, and look forward in hope of better things.

“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)

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