Peace That Passes All Understanding
Shabbat Shalom! This was the greeting when I attended a synagogue with a Jewish friend. I asked what it meant and was told, “Sabbath Peace”. The everyday Jewish greeting is Shalom - Peace! We say “Hello”, “Good morning”, or “Hi”, etc. I see so much more in Shalom. In this day, when people are looking for something more, it could cause them to take note and even ask why we said that.
PEACE - What is it? Is it real? Can I have it? A simple definition is a state of tranquillity or quiet; it is real, and yes, I can have it!
In the Bible, peace is more than the above definition or just the absence of conflict; it's a state of wholeness, well-being, and harmony, a concept captured by the Hebrew word shalom. Biblical peace involves right relationships with God, others, and oneself, and is understood as a gift from God that results from obedience, faith, and reconciliation. The New Testament uses the Greek word eirēnē, which also means wholeness and unity.
We talk about peace, but do we understand it? Not really, but God does, and He wants us to have it. We have to choose to want it and believe we can have it. Just a thought, when we choose not to live in God’s perfect peace, it can affect every area of our lives.
A year ago, an event happened that caused me mental pain, and for the last year, I have been carrying the weight of pain but didn’t realize it. I knew I was in pain, but not how much pain. In October, Gary and I were in Arkansas for the 50th Anniversary of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, where 26 of the 34 countries we are in spoke. When the last country finished speaking, the worship leader said, “I know this isn’t the way you usually start the singing,” then sang, “I surrender all.” I thought, can I sing this and mean it? Then God said you haven’t given me the pain you’ve been carrying for the last year. I realized I haven’t, so I did and also asked Him to forgive me. The weight was gone! I had peace! After the service, I went to friends for prayer so I could be held accountable by someone else. As I write this, I know the weight is gone. Praise God, I still have peace when I think of the event that caused the pain!
Do you realize that peace is not ours automatically, but a continual gift from God’s throne of grace to us? It is for right now as we go to Him in prayer, with thanksgiving. Let’s be honest, if we had peace permanently, we could start thinking we didn’t need God and fall into the trap of becoming self-sufficient.
Exodus 16 is the story of the Israelites in the desert, grumbling about food they didn’t have, so God provided manna. People gathered different amounts, and when they weighed it, it was just what each person needed (vs 17). It was given every morning and could not be saved for the next day (vs 19,20). It is the same with peace!
Since I was thinking about peace, I thought I should see what it was like without peace, so I tried an experiment. I asked God what it would be like not to have peace. Instantly, I was bombarded with thoughts that filled me with fear, and I was shocked! I had never had anything like that before. I immediately asked God to take those thoughts away and give me peace, and he did! The fear didn’t come from God, but the peace did! (2 Timothy I:7).
My God is so good and wants me to trust Him in every moment of my life, even through pain or trouble. When I choose to go to God at those times, I draw close to Him, and He gives me peace that calms my fears and clears my mind.
John 20:19 tells us that after Christ was crucified and buried, the disciples gathered in the upper room with the doors locked because they feared the Jewish leaders. Christ appears to them and greets them with one word, “Peace!” They probably expected Christ to rebuke them, but He knew what they needed, and His greeting was to calm their fears! WOW! I can be just like the disciples and let fear get the better of me, but I also know that He wants to give me peace, too. I want to listen for God’s voice and let Him keep me on track and living in His peace. I love what Colossians 2:7 (MSG) says, “… Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.”
Tomorrow, I am having a 2nd surgery for breast cancer and can honestly say that I am not living in fear of it. God has gone before me, and He’s got it! I am so thankful for God’s peace that passes all understanding! Phillipians 4:7 MSG) says, “It is wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
As we enter the Advent season, my prayer for you is found in Numbers 6: 24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face upon toward you and give you peace.”
May this Christmas be the best one you’ve ever had because you are living in His peace. Amen.
Written by
Lynne Ross
