I am only able to achieve peace in this world through trusting in God. He told us:
- To forgive those who have sinned against us (Ephesians 4:32).
- To turn away from sexual temptation (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
- To give generously to kingdom needs, even beyond your means (2 Corinthians 8:3).
- To not allow material abundance to choke the word in us (Matthew 13:22).
- To rejoice even when sorrowful (2 Corinthians 6:10).
- To be content even when experiencing deprivation (Philippians 4:12).
- To be bold even in the face of fearful threats (Acts 4:29).
- To be peaceful even when facing pressured trials (Philippians 4:6–7).
- To be joyous even when enduring withering affliction and illness (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).
- To be hopeful when all around our soul gives way (Psalm 42:11).
- To have gracious patience under pressured labors (Colossians 1:11).
- To bless those who persecute us (Romans 12:14).
- To have courage in leaving family and property for Jesus’s sake (Matthew 19:29).
- To overcome discouragement due to adversity and weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).
- To not allow indwelling sin to reign over or condemn us (Romans 6:12, 8:1).
- To love saints who sin and sinful unbelievers (John 15:12; Romans 12:10; Romans 9:1–3).
- To face every other fear and anxiety-producing temptation.
God promises to give us peace and contentment if we trust Him (Philippians 4:6–7). He really wants us to experience them in increasing measure, even here in this troubled world (John 16:33). So, He has given us the simple, hard secret: Trust Me. It is the only way.
This is no secret. It is in the Bible and is available for anyone to try. It took me almost 50 years of life to determine that THIS is the way to happiness in all I do. Since I committed to trust in God, my life has been completed and I have a feeling inside of my soul that defies a description. Peace, contentment, satisfaction all fall short. Perhaps the best description is a picture of a large, deep, body of water that is perfectly still; its surface smooth as glass, but so much going on below the surface.
I wish that everyone could experience that feeling. The only time that surface is broken is when I succumb to temptation. Don’t scoff, because Satan and his unholy minions are out there everyday with a goal to get you to just take one step away from God; then another and another. That, my friends, is a topic for another day.
May the blessings of God be with you today and always!