A Satisfying Inner Peace

Two immortal longings of the human heart are to be at peace with God, and to be at peace with one’s fellow men and women. These longings exist because man is by nature at enmity with God (Romans 8:7). Though the world is trying desperately to supply their inner cravings for peace, yet they are total strangers to it (Isaiah 57:20-21).

Man is a stranger to peace because he is a stranger to the Prince of peace. However, peace with God can only be experienced after we exercise faith in Christ: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This resulting peace is an inner condition of freedom from guilt, with rest of mind and soul, divine security, and oneness with God. Such repose of spirit and tranquility of heart is indeed marvelous. It is beyond human understanding, but not beyond human grasp, because we believe by faith: “The peace of God, which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Peace with God is also a result of following the word of God daily (reading the Bible). Obedience to God’s commandments is a definite ingredient to the life of peace: “Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165). Such peace is not only a quality of life, it can also be experienced in great quantity: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments, then had peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18). Peace with God and men are largely dependent upon each other. Peace with our God is not entirely possible without peace with our fellow men. A relationship of peace with God prompts us to live in harmony and quietness with our fellow men. When the heart is renewed by God’s grace, we are able to live peaceably with all men: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

To be a peacemaker we must follow Christ, the source of peace (John 14:27). Therein lies the key to peaceful living; Christ himself came to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79). Peacemaking is a distinguished mark of being in the family and favour of God. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Bro Henderson Sosola (Lilongwe, Malawi)