Peace

I once had a friend in high school who had a severe skin condition. He had to apply lotion, by prescription, all of the time. If he had forgotten on some specific day, he would itch, constantly and feverishly. He used to avoid anything that may irritate his condition-wools, sun, even certain foods.
In general conversation one day around the holidays, I had asked him what he would like for Christmas.


He said, "one entire day of peace".


I am so often baffled by the way the word 'peace' is thrown around so much today. . All of these with the right intentions, can be a great and honorable thing. The question is, how many folks actually think about what they are saying? Do you say these things as matter of factly as hello? Is it politically motivated? What does peace actually mean to you?



"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding" (Romans 14:19 NLT)



So many of us complain about how busy and occupied our lives have become. Maybe we have a job, kids, and other things that take much of our time. Maybe we have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or other things that envelop our day and have little time for other things. Maybe we go to school and spend an enormous amount of time either in class or doing the homework it requires. And through it all we scream, "I need peace!!"

Many of us pick up causes. We stand against the war in Iraq. We speak out against the violence and conflict in Israel. We complain of the police actions in Juarez. And through it all we scream, "We need peace!!"


It seems to me that many people can't seem to discern between rest and peace. True peace comes from God. It is an inner calm and joy that comes from Him. You find it by knowing Christ. You find it by continuing to grow with Him. You find it when you share in His goodness and share it with others. You find it when you put everything before God and trust that He will guide you.

The danger in mistaking rest for peace is that it becomes subjective.

A man will say that with his busy business life, 3 kids, and his wife, with family pressures, maybe making dinners, maybe doing laundry - "I need peace!"

Ask the man in a retirement home who has lost all of his friends over the years, no longer has a job to occupy him, and sits lonely every day because any family that he does have can't find the time to visit him if this is his definition of peace.

Ask the families of underdeveloped areas of the world if this is their definition of peace.

I have seen men with families of 4-6 kids, a wife, a job, be involved in charities, visit with friends - the while gamut - and they are completely at peace. Their peace is in their faith and trust in God.

I have seen men in their golden years, ailing, alone, and seemingly nothing left to live for live their life so completely because they know God.

I have seen families of underdeveloped areas of the world hold on to each other so tight that no technological advances would be a worthy trade. They share in each other and in God so much that they glow with the peace of God.

Do you need peace or rest?
Are you looking in the right place to find your peace?
Do you ask for help from those whom have found the peace you seek?

I pray for peace.