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“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). We live in an age of fear. People fear for their safety due to rising crime. They fear they will not be able to pay their bills due to inflation. Some fear covid and the unknowns of getting long covid. Many also fear their political opponents, whom they see as having diametrically opposed goals, and even being evil. They also fear how our country is changing and will never be like it was.
Yet Jesus says repeatedly, “peace be with you.” Peace is the opposite of fear. Peace is courage based on faith in Christ. Without faith in God, peace is either simply optimism or ignorance. The peace Jesus offers has nothing to do with the external conditions we face. One can have the peace of Christ in the midst of violence, economic stress, or any other threat to one’s well-being because the root of this peace is knowing that our loving God is ultimately in control and eternity with Him awaits the faithful. Only with those truths firmly in mind can we have peace amidst the storm. The greater the faith, the greater the peace.
Being a person of peace may just be one of the most incredibly challenging callings of our day. Peace does not mean victory in the here and now. Our country may be headed in the wrong direction and having peace won’t change that. Having peace means not being afraid of it. What’s worse, is those who are typically on “your side” of the culture will easily turn on anyone who isn’t as fearful as they are—even fellow Christians. Keep in mind that the book of Revelation basically paints a picture of Christians “losing” up until chapter 17, but it’s all according to God’s plan. Jesus both offers us peace and challenges us to live into it, despite our surroundings.
When we as Christians fail to live in peace, we miss a tremendous opportunity to put our faith in action and demonstrate to the world just how much of a difference Jesus has made in our lives. The paradox is that we should at the same time care as much as anyone, and work as hard as anyone to make this world a better place, all the while acknowledging that our ultimate victory is only in Christ. “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
