Peace that passes understanding

Kay Adkins

How do you define “peace”?  What does it mean to you to be “at peace”? 

Some would say peace is “absence of conflict.”  A world and a life where everyone gets along, everyone treats others fairly and humanely, relationships that work effortlessly.

Some might define it as “inner calm.”  The ongoing spiritual exercise to rise above personal stress and struggles and maintain a positive outlook without anxiety, fear, and worry.

Others might define it as an acceptance of “things we cannot change” as the Overcomer’s Prayer puts it.

Certainly all of these reflect a facet of peace. But they fall short of describing True Peace—the Peace of God that passes all understanding.  Most of the time we speak of ‘absence of conflict,’ ‘inner calm,’ and ‘acceptance of things we cannot change’ in worldly, limited ideals. 

However, I can’t fathom a moment of earthly life completely void of conflict. It is only 10:00a.m. as I write.  I have already encountered a difference of opinion with my husband and some stressed friendships.

Conflict is never ‘absent.’  Our fallen, selfish, opinionated world is conflicted over ideologies, our country is conflicted over its leadership, our churches are conflicted over worship styles (for goodness’ sake!), our schools are conflicted (discipline in the classroom, standardized testing, teacher pay).  “Absence of conflict” is a pipe-dream.

I had to chuckle at the first definition of ‘peace’ on dictionary.com.  “The normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.”

Normal?  Hmmmm.  ‘Non-warring’ would be an anomaly, rather than a “normal” state.  I think a better definition would be “the never-before-realized and unlikely possibility that any person, group of people, nation, group of nations, or the world, would willfully and unselfishly totally end hostilities, cooperate, and even have compassion for one another.”

Not gonna happen.  (At least not until we get the New Heaven and New Earth!)

What about peace as “inner calm”?  Again, I had to laugh at the example dictionary.com gives for this facet of peace.  It says, “a state of tranquility or serenity” with the example “May he rest in peace.”  SO, does that mean death is how we achieve peace? 

Some might say yes.  Certainly, death is our only escape from the troubles of this world.  But don’t you have to be “in the moment” to personally experience the phenomena of peace?

Jesus promised we can have peace while we are alive, AND amidst trials (John 16:33).

Or, how about peace as an acceptance of things we cannot change?  Good advice for a control-freak like me.  When I let go of wanting my way. . .when I yield to God, or to others in humility. . .when I trust that God is taking care of me and others in His time and His way, peace in relationship is preserved.  Instead of trying to change others or change my circumstance, I work on seeing how God wants to change me, (since I am the only one I can change). Anxiety over things out of my control is unnecessary—if I let go of my cares and let God be God, His peace will guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7)

So, maybe accepting things I can’t change is getting closer to what God means for peace.  

But the Peace of God is higher and greater. True PEACE is something possible to possess in this realm, but not apart from relationship and devotion to Christ. Jesus said (my paraphrase), “My peace I leave with you.  Not peace as the world gives.  I give you MY peace” (John 14:27).

Since God’s peace passes understanding, my attempts to describe it in words will fall short. 
But I wanted to try.

CONFIDENCE
Isaiah 32:17 infers that peace, righteousness, and quiet confidence “forever” are inter-related.

Unshakable confidence in God—confidence that His words are Truth and lead to Life abundant—inspires us to choose His ways instead of the ways of the flesh. Confidence that He is for us, not against us. Confidence that He is ever in control, and He will never leave or forsake us.  Confidence that His ways will bring joy, love, meaning and purpose we cannot achieve on our own.

I spent many years of my working life perpetually doubting my occupation.  Thoughts like, “I’m doing good here, but I don’t think this is my place.  But it’s paying the bills.  I have everything I need.  But it doesn’t resonate with my spirit. Should I stay or should I go? Stay?  Go? Stay? Go?” 

Twice in my life, when I finally said ‘yes’ to follow God’s directive, the result has been confident peace—within myself and between me and God. 

I live most confidently when I follow the leading of that still, small, Voice. If I yield to God’s directives, wavering, doubt, uncertainty, pride, and fear—the fruits of trying to do life my way—all fade away.  He who has called me IS faithful, and He WILL do it!

Does that mean following God is easy?  No.  But we can advance through adversity with confidence. Confidence that is peace.

COURAGE TO CARRY ON

Second, Peace means taking heart, staying engaged, and carrying on. 

God’s peace enables us to observe, and sometimes personally experience the evil and insanity that goes on around us—broken families, child abuse, human trafficking, murder, racial discrimination, drug abuse, diseases of the body and mind that take away what the world calls “quality of life.”  All of these can dis-hearten us and leave us feeling hopeless.

Seeing suffering, experiencing some of it, grieving over it, even stepping in to provide solutions—these are hard things. But in Christ’s peace, we can do hard things. We can take heart, stay engaged, and carry on because Jesus has overcome the world.

Three times in John 20, the crucified and resurrected Jesus told His discouraged disciples, “Peace be with you.”

Verse 19 says the disciples were together behind a locked door because they were afraid. 

Jesus shows up.  “Peace be with you.”

In verse 21, Jesus adds instruction to His exhortation.  “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, so I am sending you!” In other words (my paraphrase)—“Be courageous.  Have confidence.  Trust me. Receive my Peace. This is the plan.  Carry on!”

Verse 26 says Jesus appeared again a week later. What do you think He said? 

Yep.  “Peace be with you.” 

Thomas had apparently not experienced much peace—he had not been present a week earlier. He refused to believe that Jesus was alive. The compassion of Christ reached Thomas at his point of need.  Revealing his crucifixion scars, Jesus told Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.”

I can only imagine the peace that must have flooded Thomas, when he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

In Acts 1, Thomas was among the disciples who selected a new apostle to replace Judas Iscariot--the last time Thomas is mentioned in Scripture.  According to tradition, Thomas took the gospel to India and was martyred in 72AD. The peace of Christ gave him courage to carry on and do hard things out of love and trust of His Savior.

QUIETNESS

When I think of ‘quietness’ I remember a situation when my lack of peace was contrasted with peaceful calm of a young woman who stopped to help me in a time of my hysteria.

My husband, Carl, and I were taking care of our horses one day, and for convenience sake had left a gate open as we drove into the pasture.  Normally, the horses are obsessed with their eating, and we did not worry that any of them would notice the open gate, much less run toward it. 

But my horse Steinway noticed. And my memory replays in slow motion as he trotted through the pasture, through the gate, and onto a somewhat busy roadway. 

I was quite a distance away, and as soon as I saw what was happening, I took off running, while screaming at my husband, “Get a halter!  Get a halter!”

When I reached the road where Steinway was frantically trotting in circles (trying to decide which way he should run), I noticed a truck coming toward us.  I waived my arms to the truck to stop, which it did. 

And out came a pretty blond young woman.  She calmly stepped out in the road to add a barrier to keep Steinway from proceeding down the road her direction.

Meanwhile, my husband had driven down to the gate in his truck to bring me a halter.  Reasoning that he should block the gate with the truck to keep our donkey inside the pasture, he effectively barricaded Steinway from an escape back to safety in the pasture.

“MOVE THE TRUCK!  MOVE THE TRUCK!”  I screamed, again, hysterically.

The pretty blond angel remained calm, quiet, and moved slowly, effectively inserting an element of peace to the situation. My husband moved the truck, and Steinway trotted back to safety.

I was embarrassed by my behavior, and wished I had not given in to fear and worry as I did—it was not attractive at all.

The young woman, also a horse owner, stayed with me for a few minutes, and quietly assured me that everyone has “horse fails” like that.  I complimented her on her calm demeanor, and thanked her profusely for her assistance.

Quietness in chaos.  God is not a God of disorder, but peace. (1 Cor. 14:33) Luke 10:5-6 talks about bringing peace into a household.  Verse 6 says, “If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them.”  God’s peace is quietness even in chaos.  And that quietness influences both people and outcomes.

My best understanding of the Peace of God that passes all understanding:

• Complete Confidence in God and His Faithfulness
• Courage to Carry On and Complete His Mission
• Supernatural Quietness and Calmness in Chaos

But I suspect there is even more.  How would you describe God’s Peace?

​“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 
 
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