Peace.
Friday, March 16 - Day 29 of Lent.
I’ve been travelling around over the last few days, but I did manage to do some reading. I’ve been contemplating the idea of peace, because I’ve been needing it recently. I find it harder and harder to obtain peace amongst the trials of this world, and amongst the storm that is my own emotions.
I have researched verses on ‘peace’ in the Bible, and have included some of my findings.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
- 2 Corinthians 13
I sit here, feeling especially alone today. Things have recently happened in my life that have made me feel like my purpose has been lost. Due to certain circumstances, some relationships in my life have been altered; perhaps even cut. It hurts. The severing of companionship here on earth hurts, because companionship in God was never meant to be severed. If I were at utter peace, I would feel no need for conflict. The fact that conflict has arisen, means that there is some kind of hatred in my heart. This verse helps me, because of the words, “examine yourself”. I’ve had those words said to me before. But for some reason, reading them in the Bible has a much stronger effect.
The truth is, I have not properly welcomed God into my heart, nor into the forefront of my mind. My forgetting of His place in my heart, has made me a more hateful and angry person. But the truth is, He is there. Perhaps I am meant to be alone, to truly discover and know him in my heart. For whatever reason, God has allowed these circumstances to be. And I must trust Him.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
- 2 Corinthians 13
It is no mystery why so many Bible verses talk about ‘one another’. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: our relationship with and discovery of God can only strengthen in our kinship with others. Every person on this earth is your friend. Every person on this earth deserves love; not just love, but our love. Even if we talk to God every day, His love can only be perfected in us if we SPREAD IT.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
- James 3
I discovered this in James 3, which is actually a chapter to which I believe I’ll be returning. This verse speaks to me tonight, of all nights, because for the first time in a long time, I have felt an inch of such emotions creep into my heart, and I have seen the sour fruits of such allowance. I struggle. I don’t know how to find peace in situations such as these. Reading back on my old posts, I know the answer is only through prayer. Of course, I love to speak to God, and I will do so. But I want to allow myself to think and reflect on these feelings.
In truth, only sour fruit can come from jealousy and selfish ambition.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- James 3
“The wisdom from above is pure.” Indeed, whenever I honestly seek God’s wisdom and guidance, He gives me a clear sign of the answer. Whether it be through prayer, a physical sign or simply a change in my own feeling, His wisdom is made clear in me. His advice is pure and without fault. Furthermore, in knowing it comes from Him, it is “peaceable”, if we truly seek it. For we know, His answer is always the right answer. I’ve been seeking God’s advice on a particular topic for a while now, and He has made the answer clear in my heart, over time. It is a reasonable answer, and it certainly didn’t hit me like a tonne of bricks. It was gentle, merciful, but sincere. And when I followed it, it brought good fruits.
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Do I make peace? Do I? No, today, I didn’t. How then can I expect peace in return?
Life doesn’t stop with the failure of earthly pursuits. God’s unfathomable grace means that life, in fact, never ends for us. I feel disheartened tonight because of the way other people have made me feel. But studying His word tonight, as usual, has made me feel better by a significant amount. How blessed am I, that I am not alone tonight.
And I will never be alone again. Not ever.