I’ve Made My Peace With God

Image by Daniel Reche

We all long for peace, that place of rest and comfort. It may come at the end of a busy day or with the sunrise of a new morning. You may feel at peace with the soft melody of your favorite song or by the gentle touch of a friend, but all too often these moments are just moments in time. We all long for lasting peace.

Yet in a world that seems to be racing faster and faster toward chaos, finding those moments of peace become such a challenge, that even when we do “stop to smell the roses,” they yield little peace. The burdens of life steal our peace, whether it be a financial struggle, a ruined relationship or failing health. Just this week, I have received news about several close friends and family members struggling with serious health issues. Some know their time is short and it’s with this thought I want to write about peace.

Truth is, time is short for all of us.

Whether you die young or live well past one hundred, in light of eternity what is this life? Now I know many don’t believe in eternity so let me share a little Bible. James 4:13 says this life is but a vapor. Like seeing your breath on a cold winters morning, here and then gone in a moment, speaking of our physical life. But then Jesus, after talking at length about the end of time in Matthew 25, ends in verse 46 saying: “And those shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” The Bible also says that there are none righteous, no not one. Roman 3:10. Oh boy, do we need peace! The reality here is that we all have an everlasting life, a life with no end. This truth is the real reason we all are seeking for that lasting peace, or so should be.

Yet in many conversations I continue to hear the struggle; “I’m trying to make peace with God, I do this or that.” Just like I hear many who profess their faith in Christ say, “I’m trying to be a better Christian.” The Pharisees of the Bible tried making peace with God by keeping the Law, and today’s religions are no different telling you to keep the traditions, ie: you must go to church, get baptized, go to confession, say this prayer or that one, give penance and so on. It seems the more we strive to make peace with God, we end up finding less peace.

Does anyone else feel like this? Trying to make peace with God becomes a never ending grind, it’s never enough, we are never satisfied, it’s never “finished.” And so, many of these conversations end with, “I’ve made my peace with God.” I’ve made my peace with God? What does that mean? How does a sinful man make peace with a Holy God? Is it the result of our trying?

Folks, when Christ went to the cross he suffered on that tree for what seemed to be an eternity, and the moment before he died he cried out, “It is finished!” John 19:30. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you, … and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29 A yoke is used on oxen to guide them, not to ruin their lives but to make them productive and profitable for the farmer. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 Jesus’ yoke is tailor made for you, by the one who has created you with a plan and a purpose. In other words, give control over to the Master. Jesus has come to make our life productive and profitable. What is profitable? Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

So friends, stop trying to do it yourself. Give it up and surrender your heart to Jesus who said; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. Then, you will know a lasting peace that the world cannot understand. Not a peace that “you” make with God, but a peace “God” offers you. Give Christ control and He will give you peace, not a peace “with” God, but “the peace of God” that will carry you through life’s biggest trials all the way to that everlasting, abundant life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.