There is always something hard in life, isn’t there? Your kid has a rash. You’re stressed at work. A friend is moving away. Your marriage is on the rocks. You’re strapped financially. You can’t sleep at night. No matter the season, there is always a struggle.
I’ve done it, and I imagine you have to–thought that life will be better when “xyz” happens. We long for things to be just right, and yet that never happens. Once we work through one challenge, the next one is right around the corner. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
I don’t say this to be negative. Rather, we know from scripture that struggle is part of our human experience!
In John 16:33 Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Frankly, I wish Jesus never said the middle part. I don’t want trouble, Jesus! Keep the trouble, just give me the peace!
The world describes peace as rest. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines peace as “a state of quiet,” while the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the state of being calm.”
Biblical peace is a bit different. Biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict or a state of rest. The Hebrew word translated as peace is shalom and it means completeness, soundness, and welfare. The word peace in the New Testament is from the Greek word quietness, and rest. It originates from the root word eirō, which means to join, or tie together into a whole.
Biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict; it is taking action to restore a broken situation. It’s more than a state of inner tranquility; it’s a state of wholeness and completeness. And is only found in God.
When you come up against the next challenge, will you respond with anxiety or will you lean into Jesus to find the peace that he has to offer? Peace is knowing that no matter what challenge may come, the Lord of the universe is by your side.