Living in these uncertain times with COVID-19 and the challenges ahead of us can make us unsure of how to experience Christ’s peace. Many people, including Christians, are struggling to understand where to find true peace and how it works. These questions are valid. To find the answers, we must study God’s word to see how Jesus lived in God’s peace in his human form on earth.
Christ’s Peace is Revealed
Even though I have gone to church most of my life, I never knew these three fundamental aspects of Christ’s peace until age forty-five. I used to think his peace was something that happened to other Christians because I didn’t feel peace in my life. I believed peace was only possible when you were still and quiet long enough for God to bless you. I also thought peace was frail and scarce.
However, when I look back on my life, I can see how Jesus was teaching me about his peace. While Jesus helped me break free and heal from the trauma of my childhood, a date rape, and three abusive marriages, I began to see these three fundamental aspects of his peace. As my personal relationship with Jesus grew deeper, so did my understanding of his peace. When we receive salvation, we don’t know that we must learn what Christ’s peace is, how it flows like a river (Isaiah 26:12), and what we must do to dwell in it.
Three Fundamental Aspects of Christ’s Peace
- True Peace Only Comes from Christ:
The only true heavenly peace on this broken earth comes from Jesus Christ living in us. In our imperfect human condition, we cannot produce perfect, holy peace. At the last supper with his disciples, Jesus tells them about his peace.
And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous for I have conquered the world!” John 16:33 TPT
- Christ’s Peace Flows Like a River:
Jesus created his peace for us to experience it. An experience is active and moving even when we are resting in Christ. His peace surrounds us through the Holy Spirit as if we were sitting in a raft floating down a river. We will experience times of slow, gentle waters. We will get wet and tossed around from the challenges in our life. We may even feel like we are falling over a waterfall. However, we will always be surrounded and saturated with the love, joy, and peace of Christ. Together they are the insulator of our spirit. Jesus also linked his joy to his peace for us to experience. As we grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus daily, the Holy Spirit’s hope will radiate from us.
Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13 TPT
- Christ’s Peace has God’s Wisdom, Understanding, and Power:
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he reminded the disciples that his peace would remain with them. He also assured them of his return and that their mission for him was to share his saving gospel of hope, love, and peace.
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 TPT
The life of Jesus Christ shows all of his disciples how to live in his peace, which is God’s peace, even when we face known or unknown challenges. Jesus knew he was going to be whipped, crucified, and abandoned by his friends, and yet, he rested in God’s peace inside of him. The peace of God that is in Christ is in all believers. God’s peace gave Jesus His wisdom, understanding, and power to choose to pay for the sins of all mankind because of his unconditional love. The disciples came to understand and experience the fullness of Christ’s peace after he rose from the dead, and he talked with them.
Living in Christ’s Supernatural Peace
Christ’s peace is always flowing through us, even if we can’t feel it or we don’t think it is there. When we accepted the salvation of Jesus, we received all of him, not certain aspects. However, we must choose to work with him. We have to ask Jesus to teach us to live and operate from his joy, hope, wisdom, understanding, and power.
Now that we know we are each responsible for learning how to live in the peace Jesus brought into our heart and spirit, how do we begin? We begin by studying God’s word with a study Bible. One of the best study Bible’s to begin with, is the New Believers Bible, in the New Living Translation (NLT), especially if you don’t have a deep relationship with Jesus.
The only way to live in the peace of Christ is to learn who he is and that you can trust him with everything. As your trust grows, you will be able to surrender every aspect of your life because you know his plans for you are good. We must remember that planet earth as it is now is not our home. One day we will all meet Jesus as we step into eternity, and we can do it in his perfect supernatural peace.
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