The Peace of Christ Is Daily Manna, Not A Luxury Item

For much of my life, whenever I thought of “peace,” these Scriptures would come to mind:

I could and would close my eyes and picture myself outside, surrounded by the glory of nature as the words washed over me; and I would associate peace with removing myself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Somehow the words “in the rustling grass I hear Him pass” come to mind, along with memories of standing before mighty mountain ranges in awe. I would embrace peace by breathing deeply and allowing the momentary worries to fall away, even if just for a moment.

I looked at peace as a luxury item to be taken down off the shelf when I needed it most. A few minutes of quiet here, a short meditation on God’s assurances there, a little bit of peace sprinkled into my life when I could afford it.

And then came the year that changed my life forever. 

A year of immense grief. Of inexplicable loss. The year when my baby died, my church family was ripped away, my vocation shifted, and I was left standing in the ashes… with no real pieces to even pick up. 

And in the all TOO still silences of that year, my understanding of peace began to change.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

    my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

    pour out your hearts to him,

    for God is our refuge.” –Psalm 62:5-8

And then there’s this dynamic passage from Hebrews 12:18-29:

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Unshakeable. 

I think we all hope that when “the big one” comes we will all still be standing, but to be on the other side of it and look around is really quite something. It is here that I have come to realize that the muscle and bones in our legs are but jell-o and straws, and that the real strength lies in allowing yourself to be held by Christ in the midst of it all… and it is here that I have come to recognize peace is much more about Christ’s steadiness in the midst of the quaking, than it ever was about sunny meadows and calm mountain peaks.

Peace is no longer a luxury item. 

Peace is a daily clinging to Jesus—no matter what lies ahead. It is being fed manna. A daily process of finding his promises to be sure, time and time again.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” –John 14:27

Related: Prayers for peace and reconciliation