PEACE OH SWEET PEACE

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Years ago, I was engaged to be married. However, the engagement ended badly and I called it off. I remember lying in my bed, crying my heart out. All of sudden, this deep peace overcame me. I couldn’t understand it. Here I was, suffering from the biggest heartbreak of my life up to that point, yet, I had peace.

At the moment that I felt peace overtake my heart and mind, I couldn’t cry anymore. My tears instantly dried up. I tried to cry. I tried to remember what had just happened, but I couldn’t produce any tears. The peace I felt was a sign that I was in the center of God‘s will.

The peace of God. I have to say, of all the wonderful benefits that come with salvation, the peace of God is my favorite. When Jesus was preparing to depart from this world, He told His disciples (as He says to believers today)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27)

Jesus gives us His peace, which is different from the type of peace that comes from the world. The world tells us, “things will get better” but that is not always the case. Sometimes, a situation may go from bad to worse. But in Christ, we can have peace no matter what happens. The peace of God is not “absence of trouble” because we have been told that we will have trouble in this life. God’s peace is a quiet inner peace that says, “Even though the world around me is full of trouble and heartache, everything is alright with me and my God.” It is a type of peace that let’s us know, whatever may happen, God will carry us through.

Therefore, we don’t have to worry. We don’t have to be afraid. We can be ruled by the peace of God. We can abide in the shadow of His wing and in the center of will. No matter what happens in this life, God has promised us a home in heaven and an eternity of joy. He has promised to one day wipe all the tears from our eyes and to take away evil and death and sickness and sin. The enemy of our souls will not exist forever. But we who have believed in Christ shall live forever with Him. In the end, we will gain victory. People who do not know Christ cannot understand this. It seems foolish, but we are glad to be fools for Christ. No matter what people may say, the peace within our hearts lets us know that we are alright with God.

http://shilohtemplecogic.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/peace-o-sweet-peace/