I went through a phase somewhere in elementary to middle school where I was obsessed with the 70s – you know, all VW Bugs and tie-dye and bell bottoms and those round, John Lennon sunglasses. And platform sneakers. I’m not proud of it.
Thus peace, in my mind, used to mean the symbol, or the hand sign, or some kind of saying – “Give peace a chance!” I think from that, I interpreted peace as a time when nothing is bad, and everything is just groovy, man. I mean, isn’t that why people protest wars? So everything can be status quo?
The book Peacemaking Women redefined my perspective of peace. Like love and compassion, it’s something you cultivate, choose, pursue, and really have to fight for. Peace isn’t necessarily a situation that you find yourself in; it’s a state of mind, an attitude of calm that comes of seeing who God is in comparison to whatever situation you are in.
A lot of my life right now feels tumultuous and out of my control (and it probably is), and I feel anything but peace. So lately I’ve been studying it out and considering what the Bible has to say about it.
The Bible also approaches peace as something you have to go after:
– Psalm 34:14-15 – “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry…”
– Psalm 37:37 – “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
Peace is connected to trust in the Bible:
– Isaiah 26:3-4 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
– Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
On how to get peace:
– Psalm 119:165-166 – Love and obey God – “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.”
– Proverbs 3:17 – On seeking Wisdom – “Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths bring peace.”
– Proverbs 14:30 – Fight envy – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
– Romans 8:6 – “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
– Philippians 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
God promises peace, he cares about us and formed plans for us to have it:
– Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
– Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
– Psalm 85:7-9 – “Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants…”
– Isaiah 26:12 – “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”
– Psalm 29:11 – “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
– Psalm 34:17-18 – Doesn’t specifically state peace, but it’s a promise that makes me feel safe – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
I love Proverbs 14:30. Such a great reminder that envy is ultimately going to bring us down.