Peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
~Matthew 5:9

When Christ was born, angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” It is hard to believe that peace could “rest” upon us. As long as there have been humans walking this earth in search of power and prestige, there has been strife. There have been uneasy treaties declaring peace which were promptly broken.

Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth as the world gives it. He warns us repeatedly that following Him does not mean absence of conflict.

Thankfully, that is not the end of the story. The peace Jesus came to bring us is true peace. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” We live in a world where peace is fragile. Treaties will not last. There will continue to be vows which are not kept. We will continue to experience broken relationships that give us pain.

In spite of all that, we have the assurance that Jesus brings us the kind of peace which allows us to walk through the hardest things in life in calmness and trust. We have his peace, and we know that at the end of all things; all is well.