If you struggle to experience real peace, join the club. Peace is one of those things that I’ve never really found easily in my life. It seems to be something that I’m always fighting for, chasing after or tracking down. Peace has always been foreign and elusive. Peace was just not in me or anywhere around me. Even at the beginning of my journey with Jesus, I’d hear a lot of talk from Christians saying things like, ‘I feel at peace.’
And I just didn’t understand.
And I guess that’s because my understanding of what ‘peace’ is… was wrong.
Peace is not meditation.
Peace is not an emoji.
Peace is not a barefoot, vegan, hippie strumming a guitar.
Peace is Jesus.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace…”
John 16:33
So yeah, sure… We can agree that in Jesus we find peace. And I knew that. But peace just didn’t magically come to me when I read that bible verse. It took prayer and time. Slowly but surely, I began to find peace in pieces. Glimmers of peace began to show up in unexpected places.
Peace in the trees
One of the places I found peace was in nature, more specifically strung up between 2 trees. Hammocking is a great hobby of mine and is an awesome, fun way to spend time outdoors. When my friend first introduced me to hammocking, I was hooked and immediately bought my own hammock.
There is just something different about being in nature. There is something different about being away from the noise and busyness of the city and spending time in creation. Genesis describes God crafting the Earth with His own voice and nature is a reflection of His creative power and awesomeness. I found a piece of peace when I could be in His awesomeness and experience His creative power. Which can be as simple as swinging between 2 trees, watching the sun set.
Peace in community
Another place I found a piece of peace, was in people. In times of distress and turbulence in my life, I look back and cannot believe all the missed opportunities for peace. One of the many things I love about God is that He uses people to reach us. God is always interceding.
Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, God brings people into our lives for us to learn from and to teach, and to experience joy, happiness, love and peace with. I found a piece of peace through genuine Christ-filled friendships and community; through shared meals, music nights, camping trips and lots of laughter.
Peace in the Word
When I began to take my relationship with God seriously and I began to intentionally read and study my bible, I had no idea that peace would come as a result of that. Doing daily devotions and spending time reading my bible was a struggle, and honestly sometimes still is. But I always find a piece of peace when I am alone with God, reading His word and genuinely seeking Him.
After all my experiences, I guess I’ve come to a conclusion about peace. Through creation made by God, through community led by the Holy Spirit and through the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us. All my pieces of peace have brought me to believe that peace isn’t a feeling; peace is a choice. Each and every day, no matter the storms, trials and turbulence that come, I choose peace. I choose to trust in Jesus – that in Him we may have real peace.
WRITER: Gemma Chapman