The Quest for Peace

Yesterday, like many days, I spent some time scrolling through Amazon shopping. As much as I hate to admit, I’ve become one of those online shopoholics, or shall I say wishoholics, since I do more surfing than buying. While sometimes I might be searching for things I don’t really need, like a new dress (there aren’t really many opportunities to wear one nowadays), mostly I search for things to enhance my everyday performance. The items on my list today included a computer mouse to replace my barely functional built-in one, some shelving parts for my room, and a pack of latchy catchies.

Yep, you read right. For those unfamiliar with the term, a latchy catchy is a small piece of fabric somewhat resembling a face mask, that keeps the doorknob from slamming when being opened and closed. In simple words, it’s a sanity saver.

As I’ve spent days on end inside my house along with my family, I’ve realized how noisy it can get from doing everyday activities, which can be quite frustrating when you’re trying sleep or concentrate on an assignment. After weeks turned into months of enduring the discordant orchestra of clanging pots, doors closing, and noisy footsteps—I’d had enough. It was time to do something. Like always, I turned to the internet for answers, scrolling through countless blogs that claimed to have a cure. While some of the solutions prescribed seemed doubtful, other promising suggestions were way beyond my budget. When I found these nifty latchy catchies I could get shipped the next day, I was elated.

There would be peace, at last! Well—not quite. It would do little to block out noises like the toilet flushing or the creaky stairs. While I haven’t given up all hope for continuing to eliminate noise, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll probably never achieve lasting external peace. Yet one thing I can’t settle with is never finding internal peace.

It’s not fun to constantly be at unease—having troubling thoughts stampede through your mind 24/7 is no picnic. The noise of worry, anxiety, and fear colliding are far worse than any external source of noise. While it is normal to feel these emotions from time to time, sometimes it seems they are the only feelings we face. Many people during this time, myself included, have experienced the nagging feelings that lead to sleepless nights and miserable days.

Well, what’s the cure, then? While I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, I do believe that our ultimate source of peace is found in Jesus and His word. In fact, did you know that peace is mentioned in the Bible 249 times? To me, that's very impressive. While not all of them deal with finding peace, there are number of them that do, which I'd like to share.

Here are five main principles of obtaining peace that I've discovered from God's word.

Peace Comes from Obeying God.

When we follow God's path we will find that peace is a byproduct.

David wrote in Psalm 85, “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other… I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.”

While making decisions can be tricky, when we make them according to the principles in God’s word, he promises to fill us with peace. Nothing is better than having a clear conscience.

Peace Comes from Trusting God.

While this one is difficult, God promises to give us a peace if we only trust Him on a consistent basis.

Isaiah 26: 3 states this simply, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Peace Comes from Accepting God’s Grace in Our Lives & Extending it to Others.

Sometimes we don’t make the right choices which often leaves us feeling guilty. While we should feel sorry for our sins, we should free ourselves from overwhelming guilt because Jesus literally gave us the gift of forgiveness by his own blood. Don’t underestimate that gift. By his sacrifice on the cross, we can be forgiven and receive peace. We just have to believe it.

In Isaiah 53: 5 we read, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Romans 5:1 also puts this nicely, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

While it can be fairly straightforward to accept this, sometimes the real challenge lies in forgiving other people. Yet our own forgiveness is conditional on forgiving others, so until we do that we can’t expect to feel peace.

Peace Comes When We Allow the Holy Spirit to Take Control in Our Lives.

When we allow God’s Spirit to dwell inside of us, we become more inclined to do what’s right.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

When the mind is left to itself, the results can be destructive, but when we let God be in control, we experience not only peace but a new start a life.

Disclaimer: What Peace is Not….

Peace does not mean that you will be free from all problems. In fact, Jesus mentions peace and trouble in sentences back-to-back. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33).

The good news is that he doesn’t stop there. He says “But take heart! I have overcome the world!”

By Jesus’ resurrection, he proved he is more powerful than all of the problems we might face. So why not trust him, and start journeying toward a life of peace today? Unlike trying to find external peace, finding peace in God is absolutely free— we just have to be willing to seek it.

If you’d like to learn more about how to obtain God’s peace, I would suggest reading the following:

Peace Above the Storm and Real Peace, Real Answers (Steps to Christ) by Ellen G. White

Time for Peace by Jerry D. Thomas

The Promise of Peace by Charles Scriven