Peace, Man

Peace. It's what so many are seeking. It's what so few are finding. That seems odd given how many voices are out there offering it. There is the Zen approach to life where you picture peaceful things (lack of peace is just a state of mind ... change your mind) and there is the positive thinking approach where you tell yourself you have it. There are psychology experts who attempt to help us deal with the stress of life and financial experts who try to help us deal with the stress of finances. We try to develop tools like squishing a ball or running from life (in a vast variety of ways). "Sex and drugs and rock and roll" was the chant of a former generation, but they remain popular methods of relieving stress. And despite all of this and so much more, peace seems elusive.

Could it be that we're looking in the wrong place? Paul seemed to think so. He said, "Be anxious for nothing, but 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, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7). If you look at Paul's formula, it isn't really a formula. He isn't offer a 12-step program to relieve stress or a positive-thinking approach to get you feel at peace. What he claims is a method that "surpasses all comprehension". Thus, it isn't a method, but simply entering into the rest God provides.

How is that accomplished then? "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Peter offered the same method. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). Admittedly this is counterintuitive. You don't think, "Telling God my concerns will provide peace", but that's the approach. On the other hand, it's a method that "surpasses all comprehension", so you wouldn't expect it to make sense.

In thinking about this, two stories from Christ's life came to mind. There are two separate accounts of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee in a storm. In one of them, He slept. The disciples had to wake Him up and ask for help. (Of course, when He helped them, "They became very much afraid" (Mark 4:36-41).) In the other (most famous) event, Jesus actually walked on the sea in the storm. If you recall in that story, Peter also walked on the water, but his fear of the storm caused him to sink. Note that in both cases Jesus was at peace. This was interesting to me because He wasn't at peace because He had solved all life's problems. The storms remained. He wasn't at peace because He was a positive thinker or visualized peace. He was at peace because He knew the God He served and trusted Him. He was, then, enjoying a peace that passed understanding because He handed His concerns to His Father.

There is a shortage of peace these days, with political and economic and moral and spiritual upheavals. There is no shortage of methods by which to gain peace even though they're not very effective. Perhaps, if you're lacking in peace, you might try the method of the Author of the Universe -- prayer with thanksgiving. Because, after all, He cares for you.