Peace

Isaiah 9:6, ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭78-‭79,‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14,‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

John 14:27, ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Look how many times the coming or going of Jesus—and the person of Jesus—is connected to peace. And these, of course, are just a few examples.

I know most of these are “Christmas” verses, and it’s January now:), but I just felt it was fitting to open our year with this deep truth—when we know Jesus we know the Prince of Peace. 

When we know Jesus, we can know peace. 

Peace with God.

Peace with others.

Peace within.

The world teaches that peace is a luxury and that we must own our anxiety. But, even though there are circumstances involving trauma which can add complexities to this topic, the overarching idea that peace is a luxury is not biblical for those who know Jesus. 

When we know Jesus, peace is an inheritance. We inherited it from Jesus, and therefore we have access to that inheritance every moment of every day. 

However, even though peace is already ours, we often still have to battle for it—because there’s someone out there trying to steal it. 

One of the biggest ways the enemy seeks to devour those who know Jesus is by trying to steal, kill, and destroy our peace. So here are just a few indicators that we might be letting our peace go without a fight—because, while pain and peace can absolutely coexist, these things cannot:

• Anxiety

• Fear

• Worry

• Complaining

• Slander

• Despair

• Distress

• Discord

If any of these things seem to be lurking in your heart on a regular basis, and peace seems to be eluding you, then be encouraged—it doesn’t have to be that way. The Prince of Peace is waiting for you to lean into Him.

Oh Lord, thank You for Your peace that we have as an inheritance through Jesus! I pray that this year is marked by the peace of God in the lives of every person reading these words. I pray that Your peace—the peace that surpasses understanding—would guard our hearts and minds through Jesus today and everyday. Teach us to recognize when the enemy comes against us to steal our peace, and give us the resolve to take back what is ours. Amen.