“Enjoy these 15 seconds of peace.”
I’ve watched and even made Instagram reels with this phrase, a moving soundtrack, and beautiful imagery. A flowing creek. A peaceful lake. Leaves blowing in the wind. A captivating vista at the top of a mountain.
If you’re on social media, videos like this are in your feed every day as people look for and share peaceful imagery in the midst of the chaos of life online.
These videos can be beautiful and even helpful. But these videos reveal a fundamental difference between the way our world defines peace and Jesus defines peace.
Our world considers peace the product of certain conditions (quiet, serene), available in certain locations (nature especially), and absent of certain challenges (crowds, chaos, pain, and suffering).
But the peace that we learn about in Scripture is viewed very differently. In Isaiah 9:6-7, we read a prophecy about Jesus and peace.
(To read the first devotional in this series where we explore this passage in-depth, click HERE)
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.”
We celebrate Jesus as the Prince of Peace and acknowledge that His peace has no end. When we fast-forward from Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus to the actual life and teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, we read some very interesting words from Jesus about peace.
In John 14:27, Jesus talked about the kind of peace He offers those who put their faith in Him.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Jesus went right to the heart of the matter - the peace He gives is not like the world’s peace. In fact, the peace Jesus gives is a gift the world cannot give. No matter how long we vacation at the ocean, no matter how many morning walks or hikes we take in silence, and no matter how long we sit in quiet meditation, we will not find the peace of Jesus apart from Jesus.
It’s not even that peace is some “thing” that only God can give us. The peace our souls long for as we scroll on our phones is something we can only find in God himself.
This is a reminder we need, especially when we’re in the middle of adversity or suffering. We’re tempted to believe that if the trouble would just go away, then we could be at peace again. But, that’s a worldly approach to peace.
Alexander Maclaren famously wrote words that reorient us towards truth when it comes to our longing for peace. He wrote, “Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”
We don’t need the presence of trees, flowing water, or leaves that are changing color to experience peace. We need the presence of God to experience a peace that enables us to not be troubled and afraid amidst circumstances that trigger fear and unease.
Now, let’s be clear. We may stumble into God’s presence as we walk through the trees or sit near the water. We may be surprised by the beauty of the changing season and experience God’s presence in His creation. But, it’s not nature or creation that heals our souls or brings peace to our heart. It’s God who does that soul work. He may use His creation to accomplish that end, but it’s always God at work. This may seem like a small distinction, but it’s one that makes a big difference. Our hope isn’t in an encounter with creation; our hope is found in the Creator of all things.
As this year comes to an end, I’ve found myself overwhelmed on a weekly basis. A heavy load at work, matched with challenging circumstances at home have left me feeling weary and at times troubled. I turned my phone off and headed out into nature recently, looking to disconnect from the world and recharge. As I laid down on my paddleboard in the middle of a lake amidst the silence, I prayed words that I’ve learned from a prayer app I’ve been using. “Jesus, I give everyone and everything to you. I give myself to you. I need more of you, Jesus. Fill me with more of you. Restore my union with you.”
After what seemed like an eternity (really only five to seven minutes), I sensed my racing heart slow down and my anxiety release its grip from around my heart. It was a beautiful moment.
I wasn’t off the water for more than an hour before a crisis erupted in my work life and the lake moment seemed like 1,000 miles away. I didn’t respond well initially, but later, the words of a friend reminded me of the truth of John 14:27. God was with us in this crisis and He was our source of hope.
In their song “Coming Back,” Thrive Worship talks about the difference God’s presence makes in the middle of whatever life throws at us.
The presence of God is our source of peace. It’s available when we’re all alone on the side of a river. It’s also available when we’re surrounded in a messy living room by screaming children. God never promised us that we would be without problems. He did promise us that He would never leave us, nor forsake us.
He gives us a peace that is not like the world gives. May His presence lead you away from fear and into peace!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer who loves to help you laugh, challenge you to think, and invite you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He loves helping hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com.
