Pursuing Peace
By Steve Hearts
Just recently, I was praying about a personal situation that’s been concerning me for a long time now. My mind was racing, and I knew I had to choose between following it down the fast track of turmoil or steering it onto the path of peace. Knowing that the former would lead me to a dead end, I began recalling and reflecting on scriptures about peace.
While doing this, I realized I had allowed myself to see peace as a luxury which I sometimes have and other times don’t. But it became plain to me that according to God’s Word, peace is not merely a “luxury”; it is a gift Jesus freely offers, which should be a fundamental element of my walk with Him.
Jesus repeatedly emphasized peace in His “upper room discourse” of John chapters 14 to 17. This final talk with His disciples before He was crucified begins with the words, “Let not your heart be troubled.”1 In verse 27 He says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In chapter 16, verse 33, He says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Peace comes third on the list of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”
Jesus not only spoke about peace, He also demonstrated it while out at sea on a boat with His disciples. “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”2
Jesus’ disciples saw His sleep as a lack of concern; and I would have probably felt the same, had I been among them. This really puzzled me, since Psalm 121:3–4 says, “He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Jesus’ ability to sleep during the storm was a manifestation of the Father’s peace in Him. Even though His physical body slept, in spirit He was perfectly aware of, and truly cared about, what was going on. He could have made the storm stop, even in His sleep. This helps explain Mark 4:40: “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” I thought to myself, It’s no wonder Isaiah foretold that Jesus would be called “The Prince of Peace.”3
One result of an online search I did reveals that in the King James translation of the Bible, the word “peace” is used 429 times. How then, I wondered, could I have ever considered peace a mere luxury? The scriptures I mentioned earlier, along with many others, clearly indicate that God offers us His peace just as freely as He offers us salvation. All we have to do is accept it.
Sometime ago, I came across this often-quoted play on words: “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.” The only way to have lasting peace is to “know Jesus.”
Psalm 34:14 tells us to “Seek peace, and pursue it.” In today’s world, with all its activity, technology, trouble, war, conflict, etc., peace of mind can truly seem elusive, and it often takes some “pursuing” in order to find it. But after going over the scriptures mentioned here, I made a conscious decision to ardently pursue God’s peace instead of enduring needless worry, fear, and turmoil over the things that concern me. By God’s grace, I will walk in closer, more intimate fellowship with the Prince of Peace and endeavor to know Him better.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”4
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