“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NASB).
Where do you turn for peace in times of uncertainty? Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve realized that I often attach my peace to things other than God. I am a planner who finds comfort in a predictable schedule. So the ever-extending Stay-at-Home orders make me feel unsettled. I’m also an introvert who enjoys alone time commuting to and from work. My current commute entails walking into my kitchen and spending eight hours a day working across the table from my husband. That’s a lot of togetherness! In the midst of my new routines, God is teaching me that true peace is found only in His presence.
In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul encourages believers to turn to God’s Word to find hope that produces perseverance. Paul asserts, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4 CSB). I don’t know about you, but hope and peace are not themes that I’ve recently seen on news channels or Facebook feeds. However, when I open my Bible, I see a continuous thread of hope and peace woven from Genesis all the way to Revelation.
Scripture reminds me that God is unchanging, faithful, and merciful; and that through my relationship with Jesus, I am forgiven, adopted, and victorious. When I spend time in God’s presence, I am encouraged that while my earthly circumstances are temporary, my eternal fate is secure (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This doesn’t mean I don’t have tough days. I certainly do. What it does mean is that even on the hardest day, I have hope. Not hope in worldly circumstances, but hope in the Savior who made peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).
While Jesus lived on the earth, He spoke peace. When He died on the cross, He accomplished peace between God and man. Once He rose from the dead, He granted the hope of eternal life to anyone who would believe in Him as Lord (Romans 10:9). This is the good news that I have to remind myself of daily. When my world seems to be spinning out of control, I have to remember that my God is steady.
Where are you looking to find peace today? Is it a person, plan, or possession? Let’s run to God’s Word to find hope that endures even the most unsettling situations.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27 NASB).