“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..."

I want to share a story with you that I have shared before – but I find it to be so pertinent to these times.

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. He announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel it’s cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. 

I love that story because it shows us what true peace is, the peace that Christ offers us. It is a peace that is true and real even when the world is in chaos around us. How do we find this peace? Let’s look first to Colossians 3:15, where Paul writes, 

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”

Here it would seem that part of enjoying this peace comes with submitting to Christ. Choosing to allow Him to rule, not just your actions but also your thoughts – seeking to live by His standards and think by His standards rather than the worlds. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 11:28-29 when He said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” It’s kind of like Jesus is saying, “You don’t need to understand everything, just trust me.” The moment we try to submit to our own rule or that of the world – the worry and chaos sets in. But when we trust Jesus with control there is peace.

Romans 8:6, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Here the same apostle teaches us that peace is found when we focus on, strive for, count on things that are eternal rather than things that are temporary. I read a story once of a women who spent 40 years worried that she would die of cancer. She ended up dying of pneumonia at the age of 70. She spent 40 years worried about the wrong thing. The point is, not just our bodies but everything on earth will be taken from us eventually. As Job wrote, “naked I came into this world and naked I shall depart”. So why put any hope, anyconfidence in such things. We find peace in the place where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in to steal. What you have in Heaven is truly yours, what you have here is only borrowed.

Philippians 4:7, “do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, pray. But do not treat your prayer like a lottery ticket, saying “I hope this works, I hope I win.” Treat your prayer like a communion, a time to lift your eyes from the things of this world and look to God – to His love and Grace and the victory He has already won. Sure, present your requests, like Paul tells us to, but then leave them there, at His feet and trust Him to do what is right.