Believers all know that Jesus left us His peace.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 NAS
But few ever experience it.
Jesus told us that His peace was not like the peace of the world. The world's peace is based on circumstances, and when a believer with an unrenewed worldly mind lets their heart become troubled or afraid, they seek peace through a change in circumstances. This desire to change circumstances, running from what we see as uncomfortable to what looks better at the moment, is never ending because just like Jesus tells us, we will have tribulation in this world.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NAS
In the constant pursuit of better circumstances, the worlds counterfeit peace, posing as Jesus peace, keeps our focus and robs us of the true peace Jesus left us. Circumstantial peace is a cheap counterfeit peace offered by the world. It is not the peace that Jesus gave us. Jesus peace is found in His person not in chasing circumstances.
The disciples were about to experience the worst circumstances possible. Jesus, the man that had led them to give up everything to follow Him, was going to be crucified and die. Their faith was not at a point then to believe that he would rise from the dead. They had no idea what was going to happen. They thought all was lost when He died on the cross. And the truth is, if Jesus had not risen from the dead, all was lost. There was no peace for them, for the world, or us. The best they could hope for was to go back to their old way of life and continue chasing better circumstances until they died. A never-ending cycle, chasing circumstantial peace that is nowhere to be found when circumstances are bad, when we really need peace.
But Jesus did rise from the dead, and their joy was made complete, and peace with God was a reality. Jesus is where all of our hope lies.
If our hope is in our circumstances, we will rise or fall based on circumstances. We will live a life of powerless desperation subject to our circumstances.
When Jesus told us in John 16:33, “take courage; I have overcome the world.” He is telling us that in Him alone is the peace that overcomes all the circumstances in this world. Nowhere does He tell us to chase better circumstances to find peace. Peace is only found in Him, and it is available in all circumstances for those who seek Him alone. Once you experience it, you realize that it is more precious than all the money in the world. No amount of money could purchase the peace found only in Christ. When you learn to walk in it, His peace goes with you everywhere, into every circumstance and changes your perspective dramatically. Most things that would steal the peace of the worldly person do not affect someone walking in Jesus peace.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 NAS
But Jesus immediately spoke up: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." Matt 14:27
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; Luke 2:10 NAS
"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 NAS
"Yet not a hair of your head will perish. Luke 21:18 NAS
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, Rev 1:17 NAS
Chasing circumstantial peace is motivated by worry and fear. It comes from a troubled and fearful heart that Jesus tells us we need to guard against in John 14:27. Ironically, a troubled and fearful heart come from focusing on circumstances instead of Jesus. We see our situation as bad and being hard-wired in our flesh since the fall to think we need to fix things, we begin the chase of better circumstances. Unfortunately, it is the chase that never ends that robs us of the experience of His peace. Most live their entire lives in the pursuit of peace through circumstances. With all our hopes set on better circumstances, we are crushed when things go wrong and they always will in this world.
It is because hopes are set on circumstances, instead of Jesus, that so many Christians are disheartened and in turmoil, even to the point of blaming God for their circumstances and lack of peace.
Jesus left us a better way. He bequeathed us His Shalom Peace, His Rest. That means He left it to us as part of our inheritance from Him. If we believe the gospel and trust in Him for our salvation, we already have His peace that overcomes all worldly circumstances. We received it when we were born-again in the Spirit. Our problem is that we are still trapped in doing things the old way, in the dead flesh, trying to create our own peace the only way the flesh knows how, flight or fight, change circumstances.
Pursue Only His Peace
If you are born-again and want to walk in His peace, the first thing you need to do is to stop chasing better circumstances to find peace. Just the thought of chasing anything is the opposite of the peace we desire. Unless you are in physical danger or it is absolutely impossible financially, you need to stay put and experience His peace right where you are at today, before you seek to change anything. You need to break the cycle of chasing peace at some point or you will never escape it. You have His peace right now and just need to believe His words and trust Him. There will come a time when changing your circumstances is fine, but not until your eyes and hope for peace are off circumstances and set firmly on Jesus alone.
Make a commitment to renew your mind and break the cycle of chasing circumstances today. Settle in where you are at right now and look around for anything and everything you can be thankful for and think on that. Stop running to anything (healthy or unhealthy) that gives you temporary peace, stop trying to buy peace and tell your impatient flesh you are not changing anything until Jesus peace shows up in living color in your life. Once you make this firm commitment and set your hopes firmly on Jesus alone for your peace, it will come, and it will not take long to materialize because you already have it. Once you experience it, play with it, learn to walk in it one step at a time like a newborn baby. As soon as it takes over, your circumstances will look different. You may realize there is nothing to change, at least for now. That is good because the last thing you want to do is rush out and try and change anything. Just rest in His peace until He tells you it is okay to move forward. You will see dis-ease and quite possibly disease, healed by His peace during this time. This may be for an extended period because you need to be firmly established in His peace. But resting in His peace is better than anything imaginable. This is a time of preparation before moving forward and preparation is 95% of any venture. If possible, you want to be firmly established in His peace before any bad circumstances come. But unfortunately, most people wait until they are embroiled in bad circumstances before they seek God for help. If that is your situation, do not be disheartened, His peace can still change things. Do you remember how Jesus calmed the storm for the disciples? He can do the same if you are in a storm right now. No matter who you are or what your situation may be, with all of your mind and heart, pursue only His peace as your priority and then seek to remain in it. Once you are established in His peace, you will see there are very few circumstances, if any, you need to rush to or from.
In my personal experience, I had a lot of major things go wrong right after I made this commitment. The enemy came at me full steam trying to keep me out of the promised land. And the promised land is where His peace lies. We can live in the Kingdom of God right now in this life if we believe and trust our Fathers words. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Do not let the enemy use fear and worry to dissuade you. I guarantee he will try. Today, while I try not to be cocky, part of me looks forward to times when circumstances are not great, so I can walk in His peace that overcomes all circumstances. It is a magnificent thing to experience, and I would not trade His peace for all the money in the world. You will feel likewise once you experience it. You won’t need anything. There is great peace in being content with what we have.
Always remember that Satan and the world will do everything they can to take your focus off Jesus and place it back on circumstances and his counterfeit peace.
Satan will try and steal Jesus peace from you with people, places, things and situations. These are all circumstances. Your flesh will tell you it is better to change the circumstance, but be steadfast and look only to Jesus for His peace. Refuse to run from where you are at right now, refuse to accept the enemies cheap counterfeit peace any longer. Pursue peace in all situations as it depends on you. You must forgive and let things go and realize whatever is happening is the enemy trying to steal Jesus peace from your life. Become Empowered by Acceptance of people, places things and situations as being the way they are supposed to be at this moment. Stop struggling and trying to fix everything and everybody. Give up the need to always express your opinion and be right. Once you rest in His peace, all will look different, and those who never wanted your opinion before may be at your door asking for it. From His perspective, His peace, you can be of great value to others and for the Kingdom of God. But apart from Jesus, our opinions are mostly a waste of time and oxygen. The Bible talks a lot about pursuing God’s peace and the practical ways to do it. Here are just a few of a large number of verses.
Pursue peace with all men, Heb 12:14a NAS
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Rom 14:19 NAS
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Rom 12:18 NAS
Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. Pro 26:17 NAS
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Pro 3:30 NAS
"HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 1 Peter 3:11 NAS
It takes a firm commitment to take your eyes off circumstances and keep them on Jesus. But it is the most incredible and priceless peace anyone can ever hope for or experience. Jesus will release you to change your circumstances, once you are established firmly and safely in His peace. At that time your decisions will be good ones, made from a sound foundation of His peace. His peace will open new doors for you that seemed impossible before and lead you to new heights. His peace will never leave you or forsake you; it will be with you until the end of the age and beyond in all circumstances. But you must decide that His peace is the only peace you will accept, the only peace you want in your life.
Dear Father, I am tired of chasing the peace of the world. I see now that I was deceived and it is not your peace I have been pursuing. I am here standing fast and will no longer be deceived or let my heart be troubled or afraid because of circumstances. I refuse to chase circumstances and the worlds counterfeit peace any longer. I want and need to experience only your wisdom and Shalom Peace that Jesus left me as part of my inheritance. I want to be of great value to others and the Kingdom of God. Reveal your peace in my life and lead me to become firmly established in your peace in all circumstances. My eyes are on Jesus alone, apart from Him I can do nothing of value. Thank you for loving me Father and answering my prayer. Amen
The power of the Holy Spirit resides in His peace for all who believe.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13 NAS
Additional New Covenant Bible studies that apply:
Are You Praying for The Wrong Kind of Peace?
Empowered by Acceptance
How to Have Peace in All Circumstances
Peace and Joy
When We Run Away from Our Fear is When We Get Beat Up
On the Other Side of the Fear is the Flow
Doubt and Unbelief are the Precursors for All Sin and Turmoil
Life in Chaos Christian, This May Be the Reason and Solution
How to Defeat Satan on the Battlefield for Your Mind
Walking by the Spirit is Gods Will for Your Life, Guaranteed
How to Deal With The Past That Torments You
How to Stop Sin Consciousness that Leads to Fear, Worry, Guilt and Condemnation
The Letter of the Law Creates Dis Ease that Leads to Disease
How to Stop Being a Double Minded Christian
Victory is Yours for the Believing
How to Stop Fear and Worry
Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20