Is There Peace In Your Heart?

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

Peace on earth. Do you feel it? What does it even mean?

Obviously, we still have wars. There is fighting and disunity among people – believers and unbelievers, alike. There are so many ways in which the world is not peaceful!

In fact, the same Jesus, who the angels sang about, later claims that He did not come to bring peace to the world, but division.

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Luke 12:51

And, yet, the whole New Testament is full of verses telling believers that peace comes through their relationship with Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 15:13

“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:5-7

These verses are just two of many, but they tell us that God’s peace is available to us.

Which tells us that peace is not something the baby Jesus in a manger brought to the whole world, but to those who become His.

So, His peace is supposed to be visible in our lives – after all, it is one of the fruits of His Spirit (Gal 5:22). Why, then is it so hard to feel peace? As a struggling parent watching your child who is mentally ill or who is caught in addiction – are you at peace?

A text conversation with a friend helped me to finally understand this dichotomy – the pain that I can’t seem to stop feeling even though I am confident that Christ is in me and working.

My friend asked how things were going with my son.

“It hurts, but I am not afraid of hurting anymore, if that makes sense,” was my reply. It had taken a long, hard road to get to that point. All of a sudden, though, I knew that THAT was peace.

Peace is not being happy, peace is not being free from pain. Peace is not a lack of conflict or disunity. Peace doesn’t mean I won’t lose my temper or have my own pity party. Peace IS knowing that no matter what comes my way God will be with me. I can make it through anything as long as He is working in my life. That is peace – peace that surpasses all understanding.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Christ tells us we will have troubles. We will have pain. We will cry over our children and cry for ourselves. But, He has overcome. He will redeem our hurt and bind our broken hearts.

I do not have the same fear of pain because my heart has been broken so many times – and I have not only survived, I have grown. That is Christ at work in me.

He is the Prince of Peace! Don’t be afraid – He has overcome the world! May His peace reign in your hearts not only this Christmas season, but throughout the year as you grow in Him.

Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash