waterfall  “Everybody, stop arguing and yelling at each other! I would give almost anything to just have some peace and quiet around here.” Sound familiar? We have all heard or spoken a similar message at one time or another. Maybe you have used words like that when your children were being rowdy, or maybe you felt your spouse was being unreasonable. A peaceful home environment is important, but that is only one kind of peace.

   There is another kind of “peace” that probably appears in every single newspaper every day. We read about the need for peace in places like the Middle East and Africa, among others. That kind of peace refers to the absence of war or rioting. This is not a new problem, by the way. In over 3,100 years of recorded history, there have only been a total of 286 years without any war. That kind of peace has only happened 8% of time when we look at history. Sad!

   When people call for “peace” on our streets, they’re talking about another kind of peace. In fact, each year September 21st is designated as “Peace Day” in Philadelphia. Everyone is encouraged to march in the streets for peace and give or listen to speeches about peace. I’m sure that those people really want peace, and that demonstrating makes them feel better, but we don’t seem to be seeing any more peace as a result. This kind of activity reminds me of a passage in the Bible: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).

   The Bible talks a lot about peace. It is very important to understand, though, that God is referring to a much different kind of peace than what we are used to talking about. We all want world peace, peace in our streets, and peace in our homes. When the Bible talks about peace, though, it is referring to a lasting peace that must first start inside of us.

   We all want inner peace. We want to live calm, peaceful lives, but how is that possible? We live in a broken world. We experience broken relationships, and we often have broken (sick) bodies.

   Having inner-peace has nothing to do with changing our circumstances. There is an old story that illustrates what I’m explaining here. Two painters were asked to paint a picture that illustrated peace. One of them painted a beautiful nature scene. In it gorgeous wild flowers filled a meadow, while snow-capped mountains rose majestically in the distance.

T   he second painter illustrated peace by painting a thundering, tumultuous waterfall. At the edge of the falls, he showed the branch of a birch tree that was leaning out over it. In a fork of that branch, just out of the reach of the spray from the roaring water, was a bird’s nest with a robin nestled contentedly inside. That bird pictures the kind of peace that the Bible says is possible in Christ.

   What we need is a supernatural peace, a peace that is bigger than our all of our problems put together. God can give us that peace when we make peace with Him. That must be why the Bible calls God “the God of peace” (see Romans 15:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20; Philippians 4:9). Our sin, our selfishness, and our rebellion block the peace that God desires for us to have, but the God of peace has made it possible for peace to be restored to us. Jesus Christ has “… reconcile

[d] all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross…” (Colossians 1:20).

   When we trust what Jesus has done by dying for us, we are forgiven. We are at rest. We can actually, “Be anxious for nothing.” This peace is possible when follow God’s instructions: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

   Here’s another promise for those of us who have trusted Jesus’ work on the cross and experienced God’s forgiveness for our sins. “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

   I know you agree that peace is desperately needed in our world, in our city, in our homes, and in our hearts. If you have come to Christ, then this beautiful benediction is for you: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). That is real peace!!