Is Peace Really Possible?

Bodies lie everywhere. The ground is hard to see and the air is filled with smoke and the stench of war. You’ve just fought off an enemy combatant and your arms are sore and your head aches. Your heart is beating so hard that it feels like it’s about to leave your chest. You kneel to try and catch your breath, but you hear something. As you look up, wiping the sweat from your eyes, you see more enemy soldiers charging at you. Feeling sick and hopeless you say to yourself, “Can I really keep doing this?”

Doesn’t life feel like that sometimes? Doesn’t it feel like you fended off the enemy and then suddenly more is coming your way? Our enemy uses weapons like insecurity, hate, cancer, lust, abuse, divorce and broken friendships to attack us on all sides. It makes us genuinely ask the question: Is peace really possible? If you were to answer that question in this very moment, how would you answer it? Do you really believe that peace can come upon you?

Maybe what’s important for us to realize is that our understanding of peace may be jaded. For most of us, we view peace as a place. A place of tranquillity. A place with the absence of war (both physically and spiritually), but doesn't this sound familiar? I hope so.

I believe one day as we experience Heaven alongside Jesus that peace will cover us in the most freeing and beautiful way. However, on this side of heaven maybe peace shouldn't be viewed as a place, but as a source of protection. Actually, Paul tells us that when we put on the full armor of God we must protect ourselves with the Gospel of peace. He says in Ephesians 6:15, "For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

Changing our perspective can actually make peace feel attainable.

PEACE IS A PROTECTION FROM ATTACKS

Because of the fall, we were born into a world at war. Honestly, when you feel exhausted from all the enemy attacks, you have to be reminded that peace is a protection for you.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So how does peace become our protection? It becomes our protection by laying down our struggles at the feet of Jesus — by praying a prayer of thanksgiving and surrendering it to the Lord.

Through prayer “the peace of God, will GUARD your hearts and your minds…”

PEACE IS PRODUCED BY THE SPIRIT

There’s a passage in Scripture where Jesus tells us, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” Through this relationship with Jesus our branches get to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Those fruits are: “...love, joy, PEACE, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Did you notice that emphasized word? PEACE! Peace is produced by being in an ongoing relationship with Jesus (being connected to the vine).

This peace isn’t saying we won’t struggle, but an assurance of the hope that one day we won’t.

PEACE IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF JESUS

That assurance I mentioned has to be the foundation of our lives. It has to be the reminder to us that we are God’s creation, we choose to walk with Him, His love was greater than our sin and He bridged the divide.

"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law." - Galatians 5:1

True peace is only possible because of what Jesus did at Calvary and through the empty tomb.

Remember as you continue to fight that Jesus has already won the war. The white flag as already been raised. Ride these words of Jesus throughout your life. John 14:27 says, "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."