One cannot overstate the desire and need for inner peace. Searching for inner peace, one can look for peace of mind and security in people, places, and things.
Finding spiritual inner peace in a home, community, city, state, nation, or world filled with infighting, outfighting, and warring is not a feat but is impossible. I’m not talking about finding psychological peace or peace with oneself or others.
Calm and serene places without stress and disturbances can provide a certain mental peace.
Spiritual inner peace does not reside in places or things but within an individual. One can dwell on a deserted island with necessities and luxuries and not have inner peace. But there can be peace of mind.
On vacation, I have periods of psychological contentment and peace being on the beach. There’s something about being near the ocean. Mental peace with oneself in a certain environment is good.
People are like the sea. The sea can be calm and peaceful, but it can also be a raging, unstable force. Remember when Jesus rebuked the whirlwind and angry sea by saying. “Peace, be still?”
I’m talking about the inner or spiritual peace between God and a believer that protects and guards against the worldly frights and fears.
Spiritual peace is not a commodity that can be acquired in the world’s marketplaces by exchanging money, services, favors, or things. People sometimes define peace as the absence of war. But God’s peace is an inner peace or anchor of unwavering faith in Him amid storms, wars, and even in the face of death.
In Daniel 3:16, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar, “We are not careful to answer thee.” This meant they would not beat around the bush, tip-toe through the tulips, or walk on eggshells. They were not afraid of the big bad wolf, King Nebuchadnezzar, because he could not fill them with fear and destroy their faith. They had an inner peace that was not of the world.
These three Hebrew boys had a peace described in Philippians 4:7 that surpassed the King’s understanding. Knowing they would be thrown into a fiery furnace, they told the King they would not bow down to an idol god.
Honoring and serving God superseded saving their lives. They knew God was able to save them. They were satisfied and at peace, whether God saved them from the furnace or not.
Their peace was a gift from God, defying survival at any cost.
This is the same peace that Jesus left or bequeathed to his disciples before he departed from the earth. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Believers who will not only live but die in the service of God have the gift of spiritual inner peace.
We pray for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Russia, and Ukraine; this is relational peace or peace among us as individuals, people, and nations.
Just as Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 4:7, we can take our worries and problems about this life and world to God. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” will guard our minds and hearts in Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Spiritual inner peace is a matter of faith that eliminates fear.
Be well.