How To Find Peace

We live in a troubled world where many wonder how or where they can find peace.  Steph Beth Nickel shares Jesus’ teachings from John 14 where He talks  about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Find Peace

John 14:25-27 (ESV) says,

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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.”

In this series, I’ve often mentioned that Jesus’ disciples didn’t fully understand what He said and did during the approximately three-and-a-half years they spent together. Thankfully, the promised Holy Spirit brought these things to mind and revealed more fully what Jesus’ followers needed to know after the Lord rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

The disciples had their responsibilities, none of which they could have accomplished without divine help. And the same holds true for all of us.

Peace From The Scriptures

I remember a time this became abundantly clear to me some 30 plus years ago. My husband and I had been appointed as delegates to attend a large gathering of members from the denomination we were then a part of.

The speaker the first night presented a very controversial perspective and, to be honest, I wanted nothing more than to go home and forget all about it. However, while I sat in the auditorium filled with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other people, an amazing thing happened. Scripture verse after scripture verse flooded my mind.

While it’s important to commit scripture passages to memory, I didn’t remember consciously memorizing many of these verses. To me it was evidence that God’s Holy Spirit was at work.

And apparently, this man’s position was the talk of the conference. We found out the following day that people had stayed up long into the night debating what he had said. Although my husband and I hadn’t been part of the discussion, we were pleased to discover that we weren’t the only ones who disagreed with the speaker.

Without a doubt I believe the Holy Spirit had brought God’s words to my remembrance, as it says in the passage above.

God’s Peace

During this event, God was offering me the peace that could only come from Him. His peace is nothing like the circumstance-dependent imitation our world has to offer.

I have often used Philippians 4:6 (ESV)as a basis for prayer. It says,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

And what does that have to do with peace? Verse 7 goes on to say,

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Peace Threatened

There are so many things that threaten our peace, especially when we look to the tragedies that are happening across the globe—and across the street.

I don’t even want to begin to imagine what life would be like if I didn’t know Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. I would likely curl up in a corner, pull the covers over my head, and wish with all my might that the world would just go away.

But Jesus promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit. He promised that we could experience peace that “surpasses all understanding.”

And because of these promises, He could say to His listeners—and to us, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

If I keep my eyes on the circumstances around me, I will not know peace and fear will rule the day. However, this doesn’t have to be the case for me—or for you.

Look to God and ask Him to guide you on the path to true peace.