How Can I Find Peace?

“Shalom”is the more familiar Hebrew word for peace.  “Eirene”is the less-familiar Greek version. A sense of well-being is the basic meaning of both.   
  
When great catastrophe came upon Job, his security, based on his reputation, relationships, and possessions, was shattered.  As a result, his sense of well-being was destroyed.  So he lamented, “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil"(Job 3:26, NIV). Can you identify with Job’s initial feelings?

But God is peace and promises peace (Ephesians 2:14-22).  Even in devastation, just as Job came to understand, you can be free from turmoil, fear, distress, insecurity, and anxiety. 

How?  It’s as easy as believing (Romans 8:6).

Believe that Jesus Christ makes you at peace with God.

Knowing this brings peace because:

• You don’t have to worry that God is against you.  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NAS).
• You don’t have to wonder if you’re good enough to be accepted by God. “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness”(Romans 4:5, NAS).
• You don’t have to feel anxious over your ability to change your life.  “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).
• You don’t have to feel insecure about your future.  “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance … ”(Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV).

Believe that God is wise, good, loving, faithful, merciful, just, and righteous.

Knowing this brings peace because:

• You don’t have to fret over planning out your life.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV).
• You don’t have to worry that God will abandon you. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV).
• You don’t have to feel insecure about how God will judge you. “ … He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness” (Psalm 96:13, ESV).

Believe that God is self-sufficient and in control.

Knowing this brings peace because:

• You don’t have to manipulate people or situations for your good. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165, ESV).
• You don’t have to be anxious about God’s provision for you.  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, ESV).

Believe that God works everything for your good. 

Knowing this brings peace because:

• You don’t have to worry about how things will turn out.  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).
• You don’t have to feel the stress of defending yourself or impressing other people.  “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge” (Psalm 62:7, NIV).

Peace is not promised to everyone.  "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22, NIV).  It is only promised to those who believe (Psalm 85:5).   

Ask God to help you believe in Jesus Christ and in His promises so that His peace can reign in your heart.  “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV).