July 31, 2024

His Promised Peace

By William B. McGrath

At the Last Supper we see Jesus wash the disciples’ feet, and then He gives what has become known as His farewell discourse (John chapters 14–17), during which He promises His followers His very own peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

There are different forms and levels of peace, but the peace that Jesus offers is profound and can transcend our surroundings. It goes down into our heart when, under normal circumstances, our heart would be troubled.

After His resurrection, when He first appears to His disciples, He tells them twice: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21). Then, eight days later, He appears again and tells them the same thing, for the third time (John 20:26). This deep and lasting peace, not as the world can give, is His promised gift. As we compare some of the many other verses in the Bible on God’s peace, we find that it is closely linked to His rest, His patience, His strength, and, of course, to our submission and love for Him and His Word. There are many scriptures on “waiting on God” and on “hearkening to the voice of His Word,” resulting in His peace.

Isaiah 40:31 tells of the strength given in waiting, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

John the Baptist rejoiced to hear Jesus’ words near the end of his ministry (John 3:29), and Jesus tells us that we are wise to hear His words and do them, and that by doing so we are like those who build their life’s foundation on that which lasts (Matthew 7:24).

“Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165), or as other translations put it, cause us to stumble. The peace that is cultivated through faithful study of God’s Word has strength to preserve us from becoming offended and from stumbling when we would otherwise. Offence, or resentment, as we know, is a killer of peace and contentment.

Also, as we meditate on and study His Word, we come to realize more and more the beauty of Jesus, His sincerity toward us, and what He has given to us through His sacrifice on the cross. “He himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14), and he is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

The writings of Andrew Murray reveal to us how great peace and rest come to us as we learn patience through waiting on God:

The word patience is derived from the Latin word for suffering. It suggests the thought of being under the constraint of some power from which we would gladly be free. At first, we submit against our will. Experience teaches us that when it is vain to resist, patient endurance is our wisest course.

In waiting on God, it is of infinite consequence that we not only submit, because we are compelled to, but because we lovingly and joyfully consent to be in the hands of our blessed Father. Patience then becomes our highest blessedness and our highest grace. It honors God and gives Him time to have His way with us. It is the highest expression of our faith in His goodness and faithfulness. It brings the soul perfect rest [perfect peace] in the assurance that God is carrying on His work. It is the token of our full consent that God should deal with us in such a way and time as He thinks best. True patience is the losing of our self-will. …

Patience is a grace for which very special grace is given. “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). If any are inclined to despond, let them be of good courage. It is in the course of our feeble and very imperfect waiting that God Himself, by His hidden power, strengthens us and works out in us the patience of the saints, the patience of Christ Himself. … Patient waiting upon God brings a rich reward; the deliverance is sure. God Himself will put a new song into your mouth (Psalm 40:1,3).¹

My wife remembers a time not long ago when I was bamboozled into giving someone a ride to a city over an hour away at night. This acquaintance of ours had missed his bus at the local bus stop in our small town, and desperately needed a ride to catch up to the bus at its next stop in a major city over an hour away. There we happened to be, so I consented. My wife stayed home, as it was already quite late.

During the drive, unbeknownst to me, she was trying to check in on me by phone calls, but my cell phone had no signal along the desolate roads. She became filled with anxiety, so finally turned to Jesus in desperate prayer. Then, as beautifully as ever, peace flooded her soul, strongly, inexplicably, and she fell into a peaceful sleep. I returned after midnight and all was well.

It’s those scary situations that can come upon any one of us, creating fear and anxiety, that can be overcome by His peace. Thank God, He gives His peace even amidst such circumstances. He has promised that His covenant of peace will never be removed. “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

¹ Andrew Murray, Waiting on God, chapter 14, “The Way to the New Song.”

Posted in: guest contribution, patience, peace, relationship with the lord