Peace Be Unto You
This guest article comes to us from Dennis Bousquet, Jr., as part of our “Month of Guest Articles” for September 2009.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14:27
Let’s ponder that thought; God’s peace is not likely to be experienced in a reasonable fashion, with a humanistic point of view. Proper worldly behavior is dictated to us daily by various forms of media, and airwave propaganda, all of which give off the stench of self indulgence. This broadcast, if put in the form of a book, would be titled “How to serve Self for Dummies!” After a introduction to this subconscious manipulation, we become fully trained in the art of entitlement.
It is a false sense of security when we find peace this way, an imitation if you will. After the senses are tickled and our comfort is established, we resist everything that challenges this ideal. It becomes our natural reaction and the peace that God wants to give us, a true and everlasting peace, is compromised. We are bombarded daily by questions that challenge our faith and our dream of finding peace. Be aware: the enemy is always working to compromise our relationship with God. Many times after these encounters we may question God in prayer, “Why did you do this?”, “What did I do to deserve that?”, “Can you even hear me?”, “Are you listening?”, “Can’t you see the pain and suffering in our world?” and “Why aren’t you doing anything?”
A proverbial tantrum!
These are all questions I have found myself asking at one juncture or another, and from these places my faith was tested. The peace that God wanted so desperately to give me was challenged. I have found that there are always two roads to take: one leads to understanding, the other to misunderstanding. One will leave you with true peace and the other will appear to be peace but will leave you with feelings of fear, worry, doubt, etc. One choice is made in surrender, the other in resistance.
The peace that God wants to give, that the world cannot, is only experienced through surrender. To know God is to love Him, to love Him is to trust Him, and to trust Him is to surrender. That is always the result of trust. How we act during the times that are difficult for our flesh will determine whether we have peace or not. It’s easy to be at peace when everything is going good, but when things aren’t so good, what will I do?
I will either surrender or exact my will. Either I will resist, or I will surrender as Jesus did: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). By His word we have understanding that He is in control. Trusting Him with control of our life is the doorway to enter into his rest. Peace be unto you!
Powerful concept. Sometimes it makes sense to be fearful, or uneasy but this is peace that passes understanding.
You summed up true Christianity in these sentences: “One will leave you with true peace and the other will appear to be peace but will leave you with feelings of fear, worry, doubt, etc. One choice is made in surrender, the other in resistance. The peace that God wants to give, that the world cannot, is only experienced through surrender.”
You cut to the chase and said it well. Thanks.