5 Verses that Encourage Us to Have Peace in This Difficult World
Share
We hear of another shooting, more political unrest, continued racism, multiplying abortions, another teen taking his life, war and turmoil. How do we handle this? How do we respond to the darkness and evil in this world? Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless today. Perhaps you do not know what to do with your fears or grief over the state of our world?
Today we are going to go to God and look at Bible verses that encourage us to have peace in this difficult world.
Courage
John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Why are we surprised? Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. What does take heart mean? Webster’s Dictionary tells us it means, “To gain courage or confidence.” This is not self-confidence or manmade courage. The Biblical concept of taking heart in the Greek is tharseite. This is found in three places: Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50, and John 16:33.
The references of Matthew and Mark are the recordings of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples see Him and are afraid that He is a ghost. Jesus replies “tharseite” or take courage. In their great fear and uncertainty, Jesus was there to remind them not to live in a state of anxiety, but to hope in Him. In the Mark 6:50 reference, Jesus even says it like this, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
We can take courage because it is Jesus. He loves us, He is with us, and He calls us to the hard things with Him. We are never alone.
Peace
John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus tells us that He has left us with not just any peace, but His peace. He is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father on the throne and His Holy Spirit resides within the hearts of every believer (John 14:26). The Fruit of the Spirit includes peace. It is only by the peace which the Spirit gives that we can face the hardships of this world in victory. We can live victoriously because He already has.
Our hearts and minds can be focused on our fears and worries, or we can focus on our God and the rest that He gives us for our souls. Suddenly, when we look around and see circumstances that are evil and ugly, we can invite Him into the situations and welcome His presence of peace that we always have access to in our lives.
Endurance
Matthew 24:4-8 - “Jesus answered, ‘See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.’”
What we are witnessing in these days are the last days. How long they will continue, only God the Father knows, but we can trust that He is working everything according to His plan. We can trust lean on Him. When we see or hear of false teachers, or learn about wars, we do not have to be wondering what God is doing. When we witness nation against nation and natural disasters occurring, we do not have to figure out why. We know because He has revealed by His Word that these would happen as a result of a sinful world, but also as time moves towards the end days.
Just like labor pains reveal the coming new birth, these earthly “labor pains” reveal the new life of heaven to come. The misery, hardship, and agony may last for a short time, but then the joy of faith becoming sight will be revealed. Psalm 30:5 says, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Security
Isaiah 26:3 - “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
We are able to find temporary peace from things in this world. Many of them are good things such as walks, deep breathing, listening to the ocean, or playing calming music. However, these are not lasting. God promises us that He keeps us in perfect peace. He is the only one to promise this. It is the gift of knowing that we are eternally secure and safe in Him arms.
This type of peace is something that all believers have access to, however this verse is clear that trust in Him is key. It is like someone offering you a glass of water when you are parched, it is there, but you have to accept it to receive its benefits.
God Is Sovereign
Philippians 4:7 - “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lastly, we can rest in the truth that God’s peace is more than we can humanly comprehend. He is the One who protects our hearts and our minds in Jesus. Where our thoughts worry and are consumed by the troubles of this life, He reminds us that He is sovereign over all. Where our hearts feel discouraged and tempted to despair, He refreshes us with His constant presence.
So what’s on your mind? What is troubling you? How can knowing Christ enable you to take on the difficulties around you and rest in Him to be holding the world even during its chaos and strife? He has overcome, tharseite, take heart.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Tim Bogdanov
