Peace At All Times

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

There once were two painters who decided to have a contest: Who could draw a better picture of peace? The first man painted a beautiful mountain scene with a beautifully calm lake in the middle. Can you picture it? It was quiet and serene. Peaceful! But that artist didn’t win the contest. 

The second artist painted a steep cliff with a violent waterfall. The sky was ominous. The wind blew across the canvass. Next to the waterfall stood a dead tree. A branch from that dead tree reached out in front of the thundering waterfall. There on that branch of that dead tree sat a little bird perfectly at peace in its little nest. That second painter won. True peace is finding calm even in the storm.

That’s the peace that Jesus brings to those who trust in him. As Paul finished his second letter to the Thessalonian Christians, he chose to use this title for Jesus: “The Lord of peace.” Isn’t that the kind of Lord that we need? We need a Savior who can bring us peace! Jesus does at all times and in every way.

How? Your sins have been forgiven by Jesus’ death on the cross. Your heart can have peace at all times and in every way. Jesus’ presence means you’re never alone. Your body can have peace at all times and in every way. Jesus’ promise of heaven robs even death of its power. Your soul can have peace at all times and in every way. Can you see that? No matter what thunders around you, the Lord is with you. Nothing can touch or change the peace of Jesus’ salvation.

So “may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” True peace isn’t having a trouble-free life. True peace is the strength to be at peace even in the middle of the storm. True peace isn’t getting to live in some picture-perfect mountain scene. True peace is being content and secure, even as the crashing waves of life thunder around you. Sound impossible? It is, unless you have Jesus.

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Dear Lord of peace, peace seems so hard to find, except when we look to you. May your forgiveness, grace, and presence fill our hearts and lives with peace at all times and in every way. Amen.

Pastor Nathan