Give me true peace

The COVID-19 virus is causing panic and fear and no one likes the uncertainty. So, we all scream for some peace and stability in this chaotic world. We wrestle with trust and not having control. However, this struggle is universal and comes with living in a fallen world.

Believers in Jesus Christ know that God is in total control. Those who deny God's existence or who do not turn to Him in their lives, deny themselves the greatest treatment for fear, anxiety, worry and doubt. Our God offers us something that the world cannot give us.

In John 14:27 our Lord tells us; "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

God's peace is real and tangible and His peace counters fear and a troubled heart. The peace of God is not just a mere feeling but is something given to those who genuinely desire God and a life in fellowship with Him. The peace of God is a quiet contentment and joy that comes from knowing that God is present. The peace of God and fear or anxiety cannot exist together.

Fear, doubt and mistrust are of Satan. As Christians, we may fluctuate with having and preserving God's peace inside us, only to lose our focus on God and become filled with fear and doubt. It is a struggle but the peace of God must be desired, pursued and maintained daily.

When we genuinely seek God in prayer and the reading of His Word, we are opening ourselves for an encounter with the peace of God. Our God is sufficient for all the events in the world and in our lives when they seem chaotic and out of control. When we bring ourselves into fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, we are bringing balance and stability into our lives. 

To preserve the peace of God in us is to be cautious about to what we expose ourselves. We have become increasingly dependent on the media to keep us informed. We are depending, however, on the large news media outlets that feed and exploits our fears in order to boost ratings. Part of maintaining God's peace is not feeding our fear.

We need to walk and live according to God's will because when we stray off the path, we lose God's peace. We must strive to live tuned in to God's will and to recognize the source of our anxiety and consciously give up control, trust God more, tolerate uncertainty and being at peace with not knowing all the details.

Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge (submit to) Him, And He will make your paths straight."

The peace of God is a beautiful thing. It is there for all of us to find through Jesus Christ.