Peace
Peace in a Troubled World
When the news is heavy and the world feels unstable, peace can seem naive. But the deepest human peace has never depended on calm circumstances; if it did, no one would ever have it. Christians point to a peace Jesus offered in the middle of trouble, not by denying the trouble, but by anchoring the heart to something the trouble cannot reach.
The human question
It is hard to be at peace in a world of conflict, disaster, and dread. Part of us feels we would be foolish to relax. Yet a peace that only shows up when everything is fine is not really peace, it is just a lull. What we actually long for is an inner steadiness that can hold even when the outer world will not settle down.
What Jesus said
Jesus was strikingly honest about the world. He did not promise his followers an easy life; he promised them peace in the middle of a hard one.
The peace Jesus offers is ‘not as the world giveth.’ The world gives peace by removing problems; Jesus gives it in the presence of problems, rooted in the claim that he has already overcome the worst the world can do.
You are welcome to come and see
None of this asks you to pretend, to sign up, or to have it all figured out. The invitation of Jesus was always gentle: come and see. Read his own words, watch what he does with the tired and the hurting, and decide for yourself. The Gospel of John is a kind place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest heart.
Meet JesusRead the Gospel of JohnAsk for prayerJesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- How can I have peace when the world feels so chaotic?
- By locating peace somewhere the chaos cannot reach. Jesus told his followers, 'in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 16:33). The peace he offers steadies the heart without denying the trouble.
- What kind of peace did Jesus promise?
- A peace 'not as the world giveth' (John 14:27). The world's peace depends on problems going away; the peace Jesus offers is present even in the middle of them, grounded in trust rather than in calm circumstances.