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 Do You Have Trouble in Your Life? Are You in Need of True & Lasting Peace?

Even in the best of times, troubles and problems still seem to abound. It is easy to find any bit of peace we had, giving way to worry, fret, and frustration. This is why I love John 16:33 where Jesus tells his disciples: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Here is a peace we can have in the midst of trouble, even in times of tribulation! That is because this peace is not tied to our circumstances which change constantly. Jesus himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:15)! How is this possible? Well, let us consider some of the things that steal our peace:

  • Guilt & the burden of trying live a perfect life – “When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

  • Broken relationships- through the transforming power of Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross, enemies can be made our brothers and sisters (Ephesians 2:14-16).

  • The desires of our flesh that never seem to be satisfied- Jesus’s death on the cross destroyed the power of our sin nature and the evil forces of this world to rule our lives (Colossians 2:11-15)

  • Fear of:
    • Death- Jesus defeated death on the cross for those who trust in him (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
    • Being left alone- He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6)
    • Not being loved or accepted- nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39)
    • Our needs not being met- Jesus has promised that our heavenly father will provide everything that we need (Matthew 6:25-34) “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
    • Our plans not working out- our plans don’t need to work out; we were never in control anyway. Our sovereign God has promised “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Did you notice something about all the above causes that seem to rob us of our peace? Every one is either directly or indirectly addressed by Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter!

For Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He totally understands the weakness, pain, temptations, suffering, and loss we experience in this life because he lived on this earth as one of us. But unlike us, he never sinned. This qualified him to be the only suitable sacrifice to stand in our place and take our punishment so that we could be declared righteous and live in heaven with God for eternity, instead of spending eternity being punished in Hell. Because Jesus is God, the grave could not hold him, and on the third day God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus now sits at the Father’s right hand ruling the cosmos! Can there be any greater peace than knowing that the one who has absolute control over the cosmos loves you enough to die for you!

The peace, love, and salvation of Jesus is waiting for you to experience, but you must put your trust in him to receive it. Do not wait until you have all your doubts and questions answered. Come to him with your questions. For he is real, he is loving and gentle, and he will answer those questions if you come honestly seeking him, admitting your need for him, and asking him for his forgiveness and salvation.

For those of you who have found the treasure of Jesus’s love, I encourage you to read this Easter the apostle John’s record of all that Jesus said to his disciples during their last meal together before his arrest and crucifixion (chapters 13-17). The verse I started with (John 16:33) is Jesus’s last recorded words that he spoke to his disciples before turning to his heavenly Father to pray for both the disciples who were sitting with him, and for all of us who would follow!