God's Transcendent Peace

Feelings of inner discomfort and distress can be so prevalent at times, and the mind can run amuck with anxious and unproductive thoughts. But there are ways to calm down the mind and find a greater sense of inner peace. That is what we’ve been talking about recently, and in some respects we’ve saved the best (or most important) for last: finding inner peace through God.

The Bible gives us guidance for life in so many ways. One of the great human struggles since the beginning of time has been to find rest for the mind and peace for the soul. Humans have always struggled with illness, fear, stress and a certain restlessness of spirit (doubt and discontent). However, the Bible talks about how to find true peace instead, and today we will focus on a couple of verses along those lines.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”

With these words Jesus promises us a special peace that can penetrate our fears and defenses and permeate every fiber of our being. He is our Shepherd, the one who carries us through danger and cares for us above all. He has our best interests at heart, He has the power to heal, and He is right with us at all times. This gives us peace. He also promises that He doesn’t give “as the world gives.” What the world gives is situational, and therefore changes with the wind. Jesus’ peace is unshakable and eternal. It is indiscriminate and unconditional. He won’t give and then take it away. He gives, and it is free, permanent, and deep, not surface level.

The things we look to for peace in this world might seem to work some days and not others, or might seem to just scratch the surface of our true needs. Look to Jesus for a deeper peace that lasts. Ask Him to fill you with this today!

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

There are so many things about our existence that we simply can’t understand: the vastness of the universe, the diversity of the animal kingdom, the interworkings of our bodies and minds, and our own consciousness are but a few.

But yet we think we ought to be able to “make sense” of everything at times, don’t we. In fact this is one way in which people can frustrate themselves in healing, by trying to figure it all out (what is my timeline going to be? Why am I feeling this way today? Etc.)

Sometime we simply have to put things into the blessed and loving hands of God and say “Your knowledge is so much more than mine, and you love me, so I trust you to care for me and my future and to give me what I need in healing.”

There are times when the doubt and fear is so great that you might think “I could never find relief from this, it wouldn’t even make sense.” But here Paul says that the peace of God is outside of and above our understanding—it can penetrate all situations and come as a blessing to you at any time.

Ask for this peace and be open to how it can wash over you and allow you to feel hopeful, calm and relaxed, “even when it doesn’t make sense.”

Have a blessed week as you move forward in healing! God’s peace be with you!
Michael