3 Verses on a Peace That surpasses All Understanding
Peace, as we understand it, can be an elusive thing. We often look for it in the wrong way or in the wrong place, racing through our “busy busy” lives and wondering why God has abandoned us when we break down from exhaustion. I’ve always struggled with what peace is supposed to mean to me. Does it mean no struggles at all? Does it mean feeling alright when struggles abound?
Neither of those scenarios have sat well with me. The first, because Jesus reminds us over and over about the cross we must pick up to follow him. The second, because faking it till I make it feels both impossible and harmful to my mental health. So, what does peace mean in day-to-day life?
It would take much more than one blog post to fully explore Biblical peace, but I hope that a few simple verses can help us understand better.
1. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54:10
God says this to Israel as a promise that He will never be angry with them again. After centuries of cycling through Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s judgment, He declares a complete and final reconciliation. That reconciliation turns out to be Jesus Christ.
2. 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. - John 14:27
Jesus ensures peace for His disciples when He tells them about the Holy Spirit, who will come to help them once Jesus returns to the Father. Again, God associates peace with His presence.
3. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7
Earlier I wrote that I hoped to better understand peace. But I think Philippians - indeed all these verses - shows us that peace is beyond “understanding” in both an intellectual and an emotional level. Peace is God himself. He is the one guarding our hearts and our minds as we take refuge in Jesus.
We can’t manufacture peace ourselves. It’s not necessarily a feeling or a situation, but rather peace is God and is from God. Don’t feel bad if you don’t feel okay, even as you’re praying to feel okay. Don’t blame your situation for how you’re thinking or behaving. Instead, surrender to Him in all the little moments that make up your day - falling again into His love and remembering His promises. Let Him be your peace today.