Picture the functioning of a washing machine. While the inner compartment tumbles and turns and throws its contents around, the outer part of the machine remains at rest. In fact, newer designs tell you the machine is noiseless. That means the “suffering” of the clothes go unnoticed because no one even hears the machine while it is working.
This is exactly how it is for people who lack inner peace. Everything around them may look peaceful, even their appearance is like that of those who have peace. Yet, there is a great turmoil in their insides. We can only claim to have total peace when we have inner peace as well. People would often say “you cannot give what you don’t have”. If we are to be God’s instruments of peace then we must have this peace as well.
As a child of God, peace is your entitlement. Part of the things God gives to all those who believe is peace (Isa. 26:3). If you discover you do not have peace, insist on the blessing you already have. Tell it to yourself everyday that you have been given the peace of God already. This is not a baseless claim. The scripture helps us understand that we can insist on inner peace, as believers.
Galatians 5: 22 tells us that part of the fruit of the Spirit in us is peace. The deposition of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is an assurance of peace which we have received. The beauty of letting God dwell in our hearts is that He doesn’t come empty. He came with these gifts. Peace is one of those gifts. He causes us to be at peace, have this peace, and share it with others.
Moreover, Jesus suffered a great deal to give you and I peace. Always remember that. The scripture says the chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Isa. 53:5). Jesus was spat on and beaten brutally just so we can have peace. Why should we then let the enemy tamper with it?
Does God take our peace sometimes?
Many people are of the opinion that God can take our peace, maybe as a means to draw us nearer to Him. But I contest that opinion. I am yet to see a biblical reference to this claim. However, what I believe is true is that sometimes, we ourselves suppress that peace when we stray too far from the One who gives it. Other times, it may just be a nudge in our spirits to act on something in that very moment. Either ways, it cannot be categorically said that one has “lost” their peace.
Furthermore, there is a place for mind renewal (Rom. 12:2). A lot believers are oppressed because they lack knowledge. This is not because they haven’t heard of their inheritance in Christ before but because they forget it too often and fail to remind themselves. The enemy can make you feel like you do not have something even when you do…recall his statements to Jesus while tempting Him (Matt. 4:1-11).
Jesus told us to not let our hearts be troubled (Jn. 14:27). This means there would come troubling factors but we must hold on the our faith and conviction that we already have His peace. A peace different from the world, which lasts forever.
Perhaps you’re reading this today and you’ve been overly burdened. You have many troubles and many things that keep you up at night, Jesus is telling you to come. He will give you rest (Matt. 11: 28). He will put that troubled heart at peace. No one does it better than the Prince of peace Himself.
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Jude 1:2 ESV
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