What comes to mind when you hear the word peace? Is it the soothing rain water hitting softly against your window. Maybe it’s the sound of the ocean waves hitting harmoniously against the shore. Maybe the sounds of birds chirping outside of your window. Whatever it is, a picture or a sound, that quiets your spirit that resonates calmness and tranquility that is a reflection of peace.
Peace is one of “The Fruit” of The Holy Spirit. It is a very valuable commodity and living in this world, it appears to be a very rare commodity. Generally, peace is classified into two types: Internal peace and Eternal peace.
External peace according to President, John F. Kennedy is “peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let's not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace, a willingness to work for peace in the hearts and minds of all of our people. I believe that we can. I believe the problems of human destiny are not beyond the reach of human beings.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. says that “If we are to have peace on earth…our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means, we must develop a world perspective.”
Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives me. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid..” I have read that the world’s peace is temporal, Jesus’ peace is eternal.
Internal peace is caused by an “inner peace”, it’s peace of mind and soul. The more we strive for inner peace, the more it appears to elude us. Our life is so chaotic. Sometimes we feel that we have a full time job as a Juggler, we just don’t get paid to be one. We juggle our careers, our relationships, children and grandchildren, ministry, finances, and a host of other demands and responsibilities. We find ourselves doing an internal screaming and begging for a second of peace. We seek rest and we seek peace, but life gives us hate, discord, disharmony, distress, fighting, frustration, and worry. What we want is a “Ceasefire Agreement” from Satan. God is the one that controls Satan, God tells him to stand-down, because God controls everything. Rest is not a sacred feeling that comes over us in church or at home. It’s a heart that is set deep within God. Only God can give us peace. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” Proverbs 16:7.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You” Isaiah 26”3.
God gives us His peace, even in times of our deepest grief. He gives us his peace, even when our enemies are putting us through agony. He gives us peace, even when our closest friend betrays us. He gives us peace, even when we are lonely and alone. He gives us peace, when we are in despair. He gives us peace, when we feel that our prayers to God seem lost.
When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world. Peace leaves us and I believe when it leaves, it takes a piece of us with it.
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