"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all." (II Thessalonians 3:16, ESV)

Is it possible to feel peace even while living in our fast-paced and stress-filled world? When we find ourselves becoming anxious and overwhelmed, is there a way to find that inner peace we so desperately desire?

The Source of Our Peace

True peace comes from God, the source of all peace. As our Prince of Peace, He desires to give us peace in our lives. Although He really wants us to live a peace-filled life, so many people today live in fear and uncertainty.

Life often brings times of confusion and trouble, and peace seems in short supply. It is during these times that the enemy tries to steal our peace by weighing us down with negative emotions. We may find ourselves battling things such as fear, stress, anxiety, conflict, shame, bitterness, or regret. These emotions do not come from God. First Corinthians 14:33 assures us that He "is not the author of confusion, but of peace."

Peace in Tribulation

Many assume that peace comes with the absence of conflict, but that is not what the Lord told His disciples. He told them, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [affliction, persecution, distress]. But take heart; I have overcome [conquered, prevailed] the world" (John 16:33, ESV).

The Lord knew His followers would soon face many difficult situations. They would possess peace not because there was no conflict but because they trusted His faithfulness in whatever circumstances they might face.

Leave Them There

A friend confided that she had taken her troubles to the Lord in prayer and handed her problems over to Him. Then as she finished praying, she found herself picking those same problems back up and taking them with her again. She took them to God but did not leave them with God. I think we've all done that, perhaps more times than we'd care to admit.

At other times, we struggle alone, trying to "fix everything" ourselves instead of leaning into the Lord. But the only way to find true peace is to turn every situation over to the Prince of Peace. When we choose to trust Him, surrendering our worries and anxieties, His peace will fill our hearts and minds even when life feels overwhelming. He is the One who brings calmness and serenity into our lives. Our peace is found in our relationship with God.

Peace, one of the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit, should be evident in the life of every Spirit-filled believer (Galatians 5:22-23). Our world desperately needs what we possess and what the Lord offers. Allowing God's peace to shine through even the most difficult situations will be a tremendous testimony to our world of God's faithfulness.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

Devotion by Mary Loudermilk