Peace

Peace

by David Brenneman 

"

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well with my soul,
     It is well, it is well with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford 1873 "It Is Well"

Mankind spends so much time, energy and effort seeking to create what he or she thinks of in terms of peace.  Billions of dollars or whatever currency is being used, is spent every year seeking peace.  People go to movies to essentially forget about life for a while.  Some immerse in physical activity to forget life for a while. Some engage in intellectual things to escape life. Still others look for other means of escape.  

Wasn't sure where God was going to take me this morning until I got up for a second cup of coffee.  The words to that hymn began going through my head.  At around midnight til near 1 am I was awake. Of all dumb things going through my mind was getting coffee filters.  Peace was elusive. 

At some point in that hour I simply began praying.  I went to the Prince of Peace to find peace for my mind. 

It indeed came a little while later and I was able to get back to sleep. 

Peace is a mainstay of Heaven.  Peace is never again to be found or enjoyed by those who find themselves in Hell. 

Peace isn't found in any intellectual pursuits.  It's not found anywhere we can look today outside of the arms of Jesus.  

We really delude ourselves to look for ways to make it here.  We consider what we call rest as being rest.  Our ideas of rest aren't what God calls rest.  

Situations arise and panic threatens to move in. Everything from a bad health scare to anything imaginable. Peace can be ripped away quickly. 

In the last few years peace looked to be getting redefined.  People couldn't go anywhere or if they did because of protocols couldn't even see the people in front of them.  People longed for peace again. The peace they knew and understood. 

Jesus said to come to Him all who are weak and heavy laiden and He would give them rest.  Matthew 11:28-30 NASB "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Looking for peace and rest outside of Jesus really gets us nothing. Maybe a temporary respite but it's only temporary. 

We find ourselves back to where we we were before after the movie or whatever had occupied our minds. 

My day often begins in my peaceful place in my recliner, with my coffee in front of our fireplace.  I begin my day reading my Bible. Waiting expectantly for whatever it is that God would have me write. There's been no plan concerning this blog.  It's written as it comes to me. It's written during my peaceful time with Jesus.  The world can wait while I wait on Him. Being at the feet of Jesus is a bit more important.  It amazes me every time for the last 1,400 plus posts at just what has been written.  

Peace with God comes only through salvation in Jesus alone. 

Peace after coming to Christ for salvation is only possible through the Spirit within each who believe. 

Jesus tells us to be of good cheer for in this world we would have tribulations but He has overcome the world. 

We will have so many times even in a single morning to seek peace because of the things the world will try to throw at us. 

Busyness tends to leech away peace.  Look at the story of Mary and Martha. We can be consumed with anything and everything that desires to take our minds off of God. As a recent sermon I heard had asked the question, what do you do with your 42 hours?

After work, sleep, the necessary day-to-day, there's about 42 hours remaining. 

What do you do in that time for God, for your relationship with Jesus? Anything? Are you spending any of it with Jesus?

We read of King David's heart. We read of how open and honest he was in his feelings towards God.  Can you see yourself being the same? 

Do you focus on all the things the world has to offer in search for peace within?

The Bible says that it is the Lord who searches the hearts of mankind. He knows every single thing that would bring you peace.  If we would but ask.  

We won't find peace outside of a right relationship with Jesus.  We can climb the highest mountain or go to the lowest valley and never come close to the peace found only in Jesus. 

Take a look at your life. Look closely to see if you've exchanged His peace for your idea of it.  Ask Jesus to show you true peace.  Come, sit at His feet, shut out the noise of the world for a time and see.