Peace is something that so many of us long for and look for, particularly in what our world has been through these last few months.
But the truth is, the only source of true peace is Jesus.
In Isaiah 53:4–5, we read:
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
He took the punishment by which we have peace. Jesus paid the price for our peace. That crown of thorns was pressed down upon His brow so that we could be crowned with peace.
Jesus obtained peace for you and me.
It is interesting, if you back up to the very first verse of Isaiah 53, a couple of questions are asked.
He asks, “Who has believed our message?” And the second question is, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Anytime you come across the phrase, “the arm of the Lord” in the Bible, it is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. It speaks of God’s Spirit moving in power and bringing things to pass.
Whether that is freedom from depression… or healing in our bodies… or guidance. Each is a work of the arm of the Lord, or of the Holy Spirit.
So Isaiah asks the question, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1). Who has experienced healing because of His wounds? Who has been liberated from the captivity of sin because of Jesus’ sacrifice?
Who has experienced peace through the arm of the Lord?
Well, the answer to the second question is actually found in the first question: “Who has believed our report?” (Isaiah 53:1).
The ones that experience the powerful arm of the Lord are the ones who believe the message.
While everything God offers to us is by grace, faith is the hand that reaches out and receives what grace freely provides.
Peace is a provision from God for us that has been paid in full, and it is His will for you and me to have it. It’s His will for you to have peace because the price has been paid.
The peace of God guards our heart. It guards our mind when we pray and make our requests known. It can keep us in a state of tranquility and calm no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
God’s peace not only guards, but it also guides our path, our decisions. The third thing it does, is His peace gives. It gives long life and it gives health.
But the key to that peace is faith. God wants you to trust Him right now in this moment for whatever you might be facing.
One of the natural by-products of faith is peace. The Scripture says in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing.”
And this goes back to what we saw in Isaiah 53. The ones who experience peace through the arm of the Lord are those who believe that it’s by God’s grace through the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus that we are healed.
I hope that you are experiencing God’s peace as you place your faith in His Son, Jesus. In these trying times, maybe more than ever before, I pray you are sharing that hope and peace with others around you.
