What a wonderful life it would be if we could experience perfect peace in all of the circumstances of our stay on planet earth. But perfect peace, like searching for the fountain of youth, is more like a dream that always seems out of reach. While I agree that the fountain of youth is unattainable in this life, perfect peace is available to all those who put their trust in Jesus and allow Him to be first in every decision they make. We read of this wonderful promise in (Isaiah 26:3): “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
We also see that this special peace is available to all who commune with Jesus through prayer and thanksgiving, for we read: “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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:6-9).
When we take our minds off of ourselves and place them on Jesus and cultivate a constant desire to do kingdom work, we set ourselves up to be in the center of God’s will and that’s the ideal place to experience perfect peace. In addition to keeping our focus on Jesus, taking everything to the Lord in prayer, and cultivating an attitude of constant gratitude, we should also follow the Apostle Paul’s advice when he tells us to set our hearts and minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). My friends when we think on things above a wonderful joy and peace becomes ours just knowing that heaven is where our true citizenship lies (Philippians 3:20) and that we will get to spend eternity there!
Not only that but the Apostle Paul encourages us to flip the script when we encounter trials and sufferings by looking at these twin negatives through the proper lens of eternity. I believe when we do this we will experience great peace knowing that God will use these negative circumstances for good if we let Him. Two special verses come to mind here for we read in (Romans 8:18): “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And (2 Corinthians 4:17): “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
What really excites me about these two verses is that they both talk about the future glory that we are storing up in heaven for ourselves. When I compare my present momentary pain with my future eternal weigh of glory, peace and joy flood my innermost being. And knowing that God uses my sufferings for His glorious purposes brings a smile to my face and peace to my soul.
Someone once said, No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace. So, as we fall more in love with the Prince of Peace, be prepared to have more peace flow into our very soul!