Enjoying The Peace Of God -Archbishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Peace according to the dictionary is a state of tranquility or quiet, a quiet and calm state of mind, a state in which there is no war or fighting, where there is freedom from civil disturbance, and harmony in personal relations. Peace is a wonderful word, a wonderful concept, isn’t it?

We want peace because we live in a chaotic world. There’s on-going war, threats of terrorism, and disease. And then there are varied storms of life.

In life, there will be times when it seems like everything is out of control. Challenges, adversities and stress will come, but in the midst of that difficulty, there is a place of peace where you can go. The Scripture calls it "the peace that passes all understanding." That means you'll have peace when you should be upset. You'll have peace when really you should be stressed out.

If you get upset and bent out of shape every time things don't go your way, how are you going to bring peace to that situation? See, peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is not getting rid of all of your enemies, overcoming all of your challenges or paying off all of your bills. No, there can be trouble, conflict and challenges all around you on the outside, but real peace is trusting God enough to not allow it to get on the inside.

Remember, peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is knowing that God is right there with you in the midst of the trouble. In the Psalms, it talks about how God will cover us with His wings. He will hide us in the rock. What am I saying? Don't wait for all of your problems to resolve and then decide to quit worrying. No, decide to trust God no matter what is happening around you. Find the place of peace and make up your mind that you're going to have peace right in the midst of the storm.

Whatever season you are in, whatever the circumstances surrounding you, the Lord is able to give you peace, security, covering and protection. You do not have to be afraid, even in the midst of a storm. The psalmist describes this beautifully: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”

It does not matter what kinds of circumstances may be raging around you. You can call on the Lord for His unmerited favor, protection and peace that surpasses all understanding. What blessed assurance you can have today, knowing that even if destruction rages around you, there is always refuge and comfort in the Lord—your unfailing peace, protection and supply!

Peace, you see, is not just the absence of conflict. Peace, as Christians understand it, is the presence of Christ who brings wholeness and completeness to our lives. Peace comes, first and foremost, not out of anything that we do. Peace comes from our being, when our hearts and minds are centered in Christ.

The disciples were so afraid, so distraught that they ran in to Jesus and said, "Jesus, wake up! We're all about to die!" Jesus got up and simply spoke to the storm. He said, "Peace. Be still." Instantly, everything calmed down. Jesus was in the storm, but He didn't let the storm get in Him. He knew His authority. He knew who He was. He knew His power wasn't based on circumstances. He wasn't going to fret because He was in faith. He stayed in peace and brought peace to the situation.

Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and they obeyed him and became calm. What a miracle! But the real miracle, the bigger miracle, is whether we will obey Jesus, when he calls you to be quiet and still.

Our worth comes from Christ and what He’s done for us on the cross, and not from our accomplishments or circumstances. Yes, it is scary to lose control and feel like we are going to pieces. In the midst of the storms of life, we should remember that God’s hand holds us together.

People find it hard to understand or comprehend the peace of God that transcends all understanding. That’s where faith and trust in God comes in.

Therefore, when you are anxious about the issues of life, “Quiet! Be still.” Have faith that God is in control of your life.

When we are fearful about the coming days, Jesus says, “Quiet! Be still. Have faith that your future, no matter what happens, is in God’s hands.

When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Jesus says, “Quiet! Be still. Have faith that He will guide and comfort you like a good shepherd.

So whatever storm you are going through right now, I just want to encourage you that it doesn’t take God by surprise. God is not up in heaven wringing His hands wondering, “How am I going to protect my children through this?” God already has it figured out. He knows what you are going through and He’s going to take care of you through it until you get to the other side.

Have you ever thought your heart and mind couldn’t be at peace because your circumstances were far from peaceful? I have good news, my friend. Peace is available even in the midst of less than peaceful circumstances. Considering life will always present circumstances and problems that threaten to steal our peace and fill our hearts and minds with negative thoughts, this is great news for followers of Jesus!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly experienced painful circumstances and adversities that I thought were more than I could handle. Times when I wasn’t happy with God about all I was going through. Times when I found myself wondering if God had indeed given me more than I could bear. Wondering if the mistakes of my past would sting my heart forever. Wondering if the weight of the hurt that others inflicted upon me could ever be lifted. Wondering if I could ever forgive those who had betrayed me. Wondering if the situations I was facing would ever end or be resolved, and doubting they could ever be used for God’s good, much less His good in my life. Sometimes even wondering if I might get crushed under the weight of my negative thoughts and emotions as I contemplated just wanting to give up hope entirely.

I love how The Message Bible reminds us of God’s promise and instructs us about what to do when we’re at the end our rope and negative thoughts are consuming our every thought. We find this instruction in Psalm 55:22, “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.  He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.” 

He has also given us the ability to control our thoughts, which helps us fight the battlefield of the mind. If we choose to think negative, we will feel negative, and live negative, and a negative mind will never lead to a positive life.  But if we choose to think positive, a positive life is in our future and God will hold our hand all the way there.

Remember this; God will always be by your side no matter what, “He will neither fail you nor forsake you.” God will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding. Relax and cast all your cares on Him. Look upon Him always in faith and take your eyes from all the circumstances that surround you.