Are you at peace with yourself or do you feel constantly in turmoil?
Look in any bookshop and count the huge number of books in the health section that say that they will show you how to gain inner tranquillity. It’s obviously something that a lot of people are searching for. How can you achieve it? Those books I’ve just mentioned advise us to meditate and be still; slow down; smile more; focus on your breathing; stay calm and take exercise.
It’s all good advice, but none of these approaches on their own lasts the course. Simply because there is an empty space inside of each of us, and often we try to fill it with lots of techniques to gain contentment, happiness and peace, but somehow none of them quite satisfies.
Christians find that they experience the gift of peace when their relationship with God is sorted out. The peace he gives us is different from what the world could give us. This explains why when people search for peace elsewhere, no matter how hard they try, they will never find peace at the end.
“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” (Philippians. 4:6).
God’s gift of peace doesn’t offer us a problem-free life. But as we spent time getting to know God, listening to him and allowing Him to shape our lives day by day, we can be confident that God’s peace will be with us whatever storms we face.