As New covenant disciples of Jesus, we have a perfect example in Jesus to look up to, when we go through sufferings. Instead of finding worldly peace(which is temporary) and staying away from God, believers need to be at rest, having real peace of God, which is humanly impossible to explain rather it is possible to understand by the power of Holy Spirit that needs to dwell within us. Philippians 4:6,7 we see, ‘6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ We see there are two contexts here. One is, we lose our Peace, when we are troubled and have lot of things to worry about and the other is, when we depend on the confidence of our flesh, not trusting God, and are not worried about anything, thinking we have everything we need. Our unbelief, self-trust must die, in order to have divine peace. As we are striving for perfection, do not listen to Satan’s lies or fall to his tactics and temptations. He will deviate us, away from the light which God is intending to give us. Hebrews 5:8, we see, ‘8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered’. When we look at the life of Jesus who is our perfect example we see that Jesus learnt obedience through the sufferings he had to face here on earth. This clearly shows that Jesus’s human nature while he lived for 33 and half years here on earth. That life of obedience from the things He suffered is the perfect example and encouragement we can look up to as we progress our Christian walk in the path of perfection.
Philippians 4:11-13, ‘11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’
When we are rooted and grounded in Gods Word, God’s promises, His Holy Spirit and His Presence, there is no room for anxiety and peacelessness in our lives. These two are serious sins, anxiety and peacelessness. We can be at rest and have His peace rule our hearts, when we have plenty or not. We can have a victorious Christian life, when we have total dependency on God, at all times, having His peace in us. As the song goes, ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone…’, God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His son, Jesus Christ. He will also give us peace in every circumstance. Suffering produces endurance that will build us up. Troubles may come our way but Paul is encouraging us to ‘stop worrying and instead, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God’. Thanksgiving is an act of faith. When we do this from the bottom of our hearts, there is no room for anxiety or loosing peace (sin). We can have victory over this sin. With each level of trial, God will multiply His grace and He will give us His peace. This peace surpasses our understanding. There is no human logic to explain it.
World offers a temporary solution, which is not real peace, through books about positive thinking, but is not dealing with the root cause. It is written in Jeremiah about the peace that the world is offering Jeremiah 6:14 “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace . The peace that the world offering is just temporary and actually there is no peace. It is like white washed tomb. Our Lord Jesus gives us real Peace. We see the depth of Peace, He gives, in Isaiah 54:10, ‘“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.’
Also, we see in John 14:27, ‘27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.’
Even before His cross, Jesus was in perfect peace, after He prayed to God, the Father. He was ready to fulfill God’s will. He is our example. It says “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Whenever he faced discouragement he immediately looked to His father. That’s why it says here “Yet not my will but thine”
John 16:33, ‘33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”’
Let us look up to God, with thanksgiving when we pray as we face trails and turmoils. Let us be rooted and grounded in His Promises and His Word, His Holy Spirit and His presence. Let us not lose our devotion to Christ at these tough times but believe in the counsel of Holy Spirit. Let us have ears that hear and be conformed to the image of Christ. Do not rely on worldly things, which are temporary.
Matthew 11:28, ‘28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’
This rest is only in Christ. As we sing the song, ‘When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.’
Let us have this attitude and submit ourselves to Christ. He is our model in how He dealt with troubles and turmoil in His life. May the peace that surpasses all human understanding always rule our hearts and minds in Christ.
