"The Peace Of Our Hearts"

(A repeat from 2003)

Other human beings can be the agency by which heartache is brought to our doorstep -- sometimes repeatedly. Our response to God, however, determines whether such pain will control us.

Scripture commands that we "rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). This would not be possible if the actions or inactions of other human beings were the determining factor of our inner experience of peace. Our response to the Lord Jesus Christ forms our heart's spiritual atmosphere as we fulfill God's conditions of walking in peace. Trusting and submitting to Him, or failure to do so, always determines the controlling sensibilities of our hearts.


"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).


The Apostle Paul's promise is unequivocal. We must decisively choose to believe that rightly relating to God can assure peace within regardless of anything people may do to us. "In God have I put my trust. I will not be afraid of what man can do unto me" (Psalm 56:11). He is the keeper of our hearts, and the peace of our hearts. This is not an easy truth to believe because everything in a fallen world tells us otherwise, and our own flesh reminds us of how often we have been hurt by others. Our initial human response to the wrongs of others will also tempt us to believe that people are the arbiters of our peace. Nevertheless, the truth is that nothing and no one can thwart the tranquility of the Lord Jesus in those who "by prayer and thanksgiving let their requests be made known unto God".


True peace always rests upon the bedrock of what Christ has done and is doing rather than what people have done and are doing. "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14). This is the plainly declared Word of our Lord who cannot lie. Let us therefore give thanks and let us believe that peace is always the fruit of trusting and submissive faith in our God rather than what people may or may not do.


"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee."(Isaiah 26:3)