Introduction
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Mass shootings, natural disasters, political unrest, and financial market instability dominate the news of today. Fallen pastors and false teachers abound. Our daily lives too are frequently fraught with trauma, unexpected difficulties, or unwanted intrusions. All this can, at times, cause our hearts to falter and trouble us with fear, worry, and anxiety. What are we to do when our hearts are in turmoil?
Colossians 3:15 guides us, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Friend, in your world of trouble, Jesus invites you today to look to Him for peace. And this is not a temporary or a mere pretense of peace like the world offers, Jesus gives a heart mending, mind-calming, beyond comprehension kind of peace that is effective for today and forever.
Look to Jesus and remember that you were once alienated from God, dead in your sins, living in darkness and rebellion, but in love, Christ died for you. Through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, He brought peace to you (Romans 5:1-8). On the cross, He purchased your peace.
Because Jesus opened a new and living way through His death (Hebrews 10:20), you can enjoy an intimate and eternal relationship with God (James 4:8) and, because Jesus has torn down the wall of hostility, you can have, as much as possible, peaceful relationships with others (Romans 12:18, Ephesians 2:14).
As God’s child, when feeling turmoil within, you have a safe place to run where you can cast all your cares (1 Peter 5:7). You can look to Jesus on the cross and experience the love that casts out all fear and the peace that passes all understanding today because your eternal life is secure in Christ (1 John 4:18, Philippians 4:7). You can live by faith because you have hope in Jesus and His death and resurrection (Hebrews 6:19, 2 Corinthians 5:7). Because you have been saved forever, you can live confident that today God will keep you through the storms of life (Psalm 27:5, Luke 8:23).
Illustration
When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were confused and downcast, their hearts were in turmoil because they did not yet understand what God was doing. They didn’t understand that the suffering of Jesus was purchasing their eternal life and their freedom from turmoil. But days later, the risen Christ came to His disciples with His peace.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:19-23
Do you see how Jesus connects the disciple’s peace with His wounds? “Peace be with you. When he had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.” Friend, look at the wounds of Jesus, remember the cross of Jesus, and be at peace. For Jesus has removed your sin (John 1:29), redeemed you from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13-14), justified you before God (Romans 4:25), nailed to the cross the legal document of your wrongs (Colossians 2:14), and bought your eternal life (John 3:16).
Application
As believers, we have the choice of letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts or being dominated by fear and worry. Fear and anxiety bring sleepless nights, poor health, and unstable emotions, but the peace of Christ fosters a sound mind and spirit that is thankful and at rest regardless of the storm that rages (2 Timothy 1:7).
When doubts and fears surface or calamity strikes, and our hearts are in turmoil, we need only look to Jesus for His peace. As we look to the cross of Christ and remember that Jesus has made peace with God for us, we can trust Him to bring peace to the various situations in our lives.
Are you hurting because of broken relationships? Look to Jesus and see that He is the great Reconciler. He has reconciled you to the eternal God through His death and resurrection. He can bring healing to your temporary relationships if that’s His will or give you peace and acceptance if it isn’t (Matthew 12:50, 1 Peter 3:8, Colossians 3:13).
Are you frightened or anxious about the uncertain circumstances of your world? Look to Jesus and believe in Him who, as God and man, fought your fight and won it, accepted your sin debt and paid it, took your sins and died under them, and rose again to set you free to a new life of peace and power in Him. He will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)! He has secured your life today and forever (John 3:16). As you set your mind on things above, these temporary troubles will cease to torment your mind, you will have peace, and you will be ready to speak of the hope that is within you (Colossians 3:2, 1 Peter 1:13-16).
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Question: How does looking to Jesus bring peace to your heart and mind today?
Gary writes, “Looking to Jesus replaces my fear, worry, and anxiety with His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding!”
Cheryle writes, “Oh my, it is so much! Looking to Jesus and just being saturated in His powerful blood makes all the pain of this world melt away. The earthly hurt is so minimal compared to what He did for me.”
Jeromy writes, “Yes, looking to Jesus, spending time at the foot of the cross and being washed sets me free from the troubles of this world. It is there that I gain perspective, not from my emotions and thoughts about the day, but about His goodness and that I can trust in Him in all things.”
Joe writes, “For me, it is more of a moment by moment choice as to what I will focus on. if I did not have Jesus, the gospel, and the cross, I would not have anything peaceful to focus on. I would be stuck with fear and anxiety and they could just take me wherever they wanted in my emotions, mind, etc. Being able to look to Jesus gives me security, hope, peace, freedom from fear, A sound mind (self-control). Best of all, there is freedom from guilt, shame, and sin’s domination. That in itself gives peace and joy.”
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.