CHRIST — OUR PEACE IN A RESTLESS WORLD
Peace is not merely the absence of noise, conflict, or anxiety; it is the settled presence of Christ within the soul. The world promises peace through control, distraction, or escape, yet those offers fracture under pressure. Jesus offers something altogether different. He speaks of a peace He gives, not as the world gives, a peace strong enough to steady the heart even when circumstances remain unsettled (John 14:27). This peace is not fragile; it is rooted in His person, His authority, and His finished work.
The Word of God teaches us that peace is not first a feeling but a reconciliation. We were once separated from God, restless and estranged, but Christ Himself has become our peace, tearing down the dividing wall and making us one with God through the cross (Ephesians 2:14-16). Until that breach was healed, true peace was impossible. The soul cannot be calm while at war with its Creator. In Christ, the war is over; forgiveness has been spoken; the door stands open.
Yet even redeemed hearts are tempted to live as though peace must be constantly re-earned. We carry burdens He never asked us to shoulder. The apostle Paul points us back to a quieter way of living: bringing everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, trusting Him fully. When we do, the peace of God stands guard over our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, protecting us where anxiety once ruled (Philippians 4:6-7). This peace does not deny trouble; it governs us within it.
Christ also teaches us that peace grows as we trust His reign. He does not promise a life free from tribulation, but He does promise His victory within it. He speaks plainly: in this world there will be trouble, yet we are called to courage because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Peace, then, is not naivety; it is confidence. It rests in the certainty that Jesus is Lord even when the storm still howls.
Ultimately, peace is learned by abiding. When our minds are fixed on the Lord, when our thoughts return again and again to His faithfulness, we find a steadiness the world cannot manufacture. The prophet assures us that God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him, because they trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Peace deepens as our gaze narrows, not on circumstances, but on Christ Himself.
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Lord Jesus, You are our peace. Quiet our hearts, steady our minds, and teach us to rest in what You have finished. Guard us when fear rises, and draw our thoughts back to You again and again. Let Your peace rule in our hearts, for Your glory and our good. Amen.
BDD
