Peace

What is peace?

Often we hear about world peace, it can even be the butt of a lot of jokes because it has pretty much been decided that its unattainable. But what is it? I read a chapter or two(or more if I'm on a role) of psalms everyday for the last month or so and today was chapter 29, and in the message version it ends with "God makes his people strong, God gives his people Peace." What comes to mind when we read something like this? Do we think the end of a war, the lack of hardship, do we envision rest and relaxation? God gives us peace... wait what about James 1 verse 2 "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

Is something askew here? Not by my definition of peace. See instead of seeing peace as a time to relax and even become slothful, i think peace is a state of mind. I don't think it can be used to describe a society or even the whole world. I think that people use it to describe a said "peaceful" country because they attribute the characteristics of that country to some sort of utopia where every one is happy (everyone is peaceful). But i don't see it that way. Peace, to me, the peace i think that David is talking about in his psalm, is a knowledge that God is in control, a sense that there is a plan. A faith that what is happening has a purpose, and will accomplish some greater good in the end.

This world and our lives are far from the common definition of peaceful, but because God makes us strong, and gives us peace it is through him that we can consider it a pure gift when life gets rough, when direction seems blurry, or all else fails. We had a speaker in chapel today, and though his message was littered with comedy and seemingly desperate tries to make us laugh, he had a good message. He related faith to a vehicle that had broken down and had just been repaired and the mechanic tried to explain all that had been fixed and he just simply asked "does it work?" this is the question he asked of faith "does it work?" Does our faith work? Are we consumed with "peace" that a nation like ours gives us, are we consumed with our mere existence? Or do we have faith that God will give us the strength and Peace to do his will, even in hardship, even out side our little boxes? Do we seek a peace of the physical and the environment we live in, or do we seek a peace in our heart?

God let me have a peace in my heart that i am still seeking you! Let me have a peace that i am still burning bright! No matter the circumstances around me, let me find peace that i am in your will and striving to do your work. And most of all God give me a peace that you love me no matter how much i mess up.