How would you define peace? Some would describe it as the healing of a relationship, receiving the money to pay for an overdue bill, or anxiously waiting for a medical test result, which turned out to be a false alarm. What some call peace- harmony in a relationship, prosperity, or good health may not be the peace Christ is offering or that you’re really in need of.
I’ve learned that my definition of peace is too narrow, inconsistent, and often fleeting. The peace that Christ offers is taken from the Hebrew word Shalom. The concept here is wholeness, completeness, soundness in mind, body, and soul. This we can praise God for because peace rest in the hands of our Creator.
King David wrote, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8. Let’s rephrase; ‘I will lay down in wholeness, completeness, soundness in mind, body and soul and sleep because the LORD only makes me dwell in safety. He didn’t say that the presence of the enemy was removed, or the bill was paid, or the diagnosis was what he wanted to hear… But because David put His trust in the LORD, he was kept whole, complete, sound in mind, body, and soul through Christ Jesus.
I’m reminded of a story. A nine-year-old boy came home and shared with his mother what he learned in school that day: Well, the rabbi told how God sent Moses behind the enemy lines to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians. When they came to the Red Sea, Moses called for the engineers to build a pontoon bridge. After they had all crossed, they looked back and saw the Egyptian tanks coming. Quick as a flash, Moses radioed headquarters on his walkie-talkie to send in the bombers to destroy the bridge, and that’s how he saved the Israelites. His mother, astounded, said to the boy, “David, is that really the way the rabbi told that story?” “Well, not exactly, Mom. But if I told it his way you’d never believe it!”
How often we fail to believe the impossible is still possible with God. That He can give us His peace - His wholeness, completeness, soundness in mind, body and soul when it doesn’t make sense and seems totally incapable of happening for us.
If you want peace, ask for it. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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