I can quietly assure you that I have already found peace with God. It’s encouraging to know that others can do the same. The result of the search is a confidence that transcends human analysis or understanding. Why? It begins with faith, a quality that defies reason and logic. Just in case you are wondering, I’m not blindly buying what some backwoods preacher has sold me. In fact, my friends tease me for being hyper-analytical. “Why can’t you just answer the damn question?“, they’ll complain at times. Faith is antithetical to intellectuals, and rightfully so. It bypasses the human mind, seeking to access the spirit. But even without faith, there is such an abundance of evidence pointing to a Prime Mover, a Creator, that even logicians ought to reach the conclusion of God’s inevitable existence.
Peace is a by-product of such faith. The Bible offers a terrific promise, saying: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he would come to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. This passage claims that the diligent, those who are unwavering in their faith, will be rewarded for their constancy. Certain immutable promises, or “fruit” are offered to those willing to walk by faith. These so-called ‘fruit of the Spirit’ include abiding joy and deep peace, among others. Apart from this intimate relationship with God, we remain isolated, left to search for truth on our own, and wallowing in self-pity for the treatment we’ve received. Let’s be honest — man’s analytical nature tends to become self-referential. He inevitably finds ways to justify his passions and selfishness, even by marginalizing his fellow man with denigrating labels and discriminatory attitudes. History proves there’s no authentic, lasting peace to be found down that blind alley.
One incredible quality of the Godly “peace that passes all understanding” is its eternal nature. We’re not dealing with a capricious deity here. The God of the New and Old Testaments keeps His promises. “God is not a man, that He should lie,” He asserts. Once His peace is offered, it will not be retracted unless we willfully and consistently sin. He is a dependable God. I recommend trusting this encouraging verse, “you will find me if you search for me with your whole heart.”
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