True peace is usually something
hard to achieve. As Christians we are often told to ‘forgive and forget’ and
move on with our lives. While this idea is very simple in theory, it is often
hard to achieve, even if we are constantly praying that God would take our
unrest and resulting sins and turn them into peace and grace. For example,
right now I am seriously struggling with one of my roommates who seems
determined to see only the negative in everything. Even when I think out loud, or make a simple
observation or a seemingly innocent comment, she is always ready with negative
feedback of some kind, and I have never had to deal with that before. It makes
me want nothing to do with her, and then when I do have to be around her, I
feel myself getting anxious simply being in her presence because I know something will come if I interact
with her.
This
living situation has really been a trial in growing my patience, and in living
out Romans 12:18, which says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.” It has been so, so hard at times and I have often
found myself doing what I can to avoid her, simply to avoid the risk of confrontation.
At the same time, when I avoid her, I find myself feeling guilty, because
avoiding people doesn’t allow me to share Christ’s love with them. Even though
I have known this girl long enough to know that nothing I do or say will change
her, I still find myself feeling guilty for not trying sometimes.
John
14:27a says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” This tells me that it is not our own peace
Christ expects us to live by, but by His own. Without God, ours is not a true
peace, but simply a time of semi-calm before something else happens to make you
upset again. That is part of why things like stress and anxiety often build up
so badly. To experience the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding’ Paul
mentions in Philippians 4:7, we have to humble ourselves, ask God for His
peace, and then accept it by using it.
If you continue to be anxious about something after you have asked for God’s
peace that means you aren’t accepting his gift. Trusting Him matters!
Now, this doesn’t mean that anxiety and stress won’t try to
creep back in, because they almost always do. You simply must give it up again
and again until your worries over that issue or event stop coming back. And
that time may not be until after the event is over! What does matter is that
you give it up to God, no matter how many times it takes to do so.
Romans 12:18 “If it is
possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Philippians 4:7 “And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.
