My family and I just moved across the country to participate in the Lead Pastor Residency program with Mars Hill. We sold a house, sold half of our things, and moved into a tiny place in the city with two small kids.
It has been fun, adventurous, and chaotic, but I don’t know that I would say it’s been peaceful. Most would agree that unpacked boxes, fussy kids, and getting lost driving to the gas station aren’t key ingredients for peace. A month into this adventure, one thing has become clear: we often define peace by our circumstances.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
Ephesians 2:14 says that our peace is found, not in our circumstances, but in a person: Jesus Christ. In fact, in Isaiah 9:6–7, Jesus is described as the “Prince of Peace”. It says, “of peace there will be no end.” What a blissful hope! But is this enduring peace actually possible?
Scripture teaches that all of humanity is at odds with a holy God, having deeply offended him by our sin. In his justice, he has every right to walk away, but instead he enters into humanity to bring peace. He dies to take away our sin and remove our offense, and rises to reconcile us to himself in peace. When we place our faith in Jesus, we enter into this eternal, peaceful union with our Creator that goes far beyond our circumstances. We experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
This promise of peace does not mean we won’t have conflict with others. It does not mean we won’t experience chaotic seasons in life. However, it does mean that when we do, there is hope of reconciliation and peace because of the person of Jesus Christ working in us and through us.
Where do you find peace? Is it in your routine? Is it in a successful day on the job? Is it in your relationships that are void of conflict? Is it in your circumstances or is it in the person of Jesus Christ?
Jesus doesn’t just give peace—he is peace. Fix your eyes on him and let his peace sustain you through every circumstance.
