When we think of peace we envision––leaving our problems behind us, heading out to a beautiful vacation spot and lazily soaking in the sun on a sandy beach.  Another dreamy scene might be relaxing carefree on a small boat, floating down a slow moving river, with a gentle breeze that wafts over your face. Sounds of nature serenade away the time: bubbling waters, chirping birds, croaking frogs or as evening falls, the trill of crickets––simple tranquility.

This is how clever businesses use their advertisements to lure weary souls, tired and burdened by life, to simply jet set away and find the pampered peace they deserve. After all, they say we work hard enough and remind us of the popular used cliché––You deserve it.

Then there are those people who seek peace through very destructive measures such as: drugs, alcohol and illicit sex.  These vices divert the peace seeker from their problems in a type of ‘bury your head in the sand’ effect that will never work. True peace is not found in any of these.

Let me take you to another scene to contemplate; opposite to the other surreal pictures of peace. Picture yourself in the midst of strong rapids, clinging on for dear life to the sides of a runaway raft. You are hoping not to get tossed overboard into the frigid river to be bashed about on the jagged rocks. The swift waters quickly carry you to the edge of the thundering waterfall! Bracing for the worst, you expect any minute to plummet downward into the swirling depths of a watery death.  Then you are caught by a single hanging branch and climb up upon it as if a bird perched in its nest. The waters continuing to rage about you but you experience peace in the mist of waiting to be rescued.

Peace in the mist of sudden and dangerous trials is nothing more than miraculous! Where can we find this type of peace? The Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ, He speaks peace to us in all our different stormy trials and situations that we might find ourselves.

When you come to know who God is––that unshakable knowledge gained will keep your mind in perfect peace no matter what storm comes your way. Isaiah 26:3 promises: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Think of the burly, able fishermen who had become Christ’s disciples. On a raging Galilee sea they struggled in the midst of a furious storm. Mark 4:39 tells us: Then He [Christ] arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” The disciples had to come to a clear understanding that this is no ordinary man; this is the Son of God who is in control of all earth’s elements.

In Luke 7, we see an internal storm was in the heart of a sinful woman. Self-righteous Pharisees felt indignant at her presence. Despite their evil, scornful looks and their under the breath mean comments, the sinful woman approached Jesus.  A Holy Man and an unholy woman touched. Repentant tears washed her Saviors feet and she wiped them with her hair.

She then kissed His feet and anointed them with fragrant oil. Her love expressed was deep and His was deeper still–––He acknowledged her faith and act of worship. In Luke 7:48, He then said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  This was all that mattered to her, she was forgiven much and His Words washed over her soul when He spoke, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:50). She was accepted by Him. The woman turned from sinner to saint and was left with God’s peace in her heart––her internal storm was calmed, her sins although scarlet where washed white as snow.

Do you have an internal storm raging within your soul because of your sin? If you are a sinner you do not have peace with God because you are at enmity with Him (Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21).  It is only as we act by faith and approach Jesus in humble prayer to ask forgiveness that we gain peace with God:  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

Have you “got peace” in your life? Examine that peace; is it a false peace or a genuine peace, what is its source? The only true peace comes from knowing and acknowledging Jesus Christ for who He is and what He can do by His omnipotent power.