Why is Peace so
Difficult to Obtain?
“Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
–Matthew
5:9 KJV*
The Holy Bible tells us that there will be wars to
the end of time (Matthew 24:6-8). As we read news reports about unrest around
the world, we find ourselves wondering why the disagreeing powers can’t simply
agree to disagree and get on with their lives. We can’t change them, even
though we may be tempted to write letters to both parties, asking them, even
pleading with them, to put down their weapons and accept that there is room for
everyone’s opinion in this world.
No, we can’t change them, but we can find our own inner
peace. This is the peace that allows us to have a good night’s sleep, rather
than waking in the wee hours and worrying about things that happened in times
past or that may or may not happen in the future. It has been said that 90
percent of what we worry about never happens. So, why do we worry?
Quite often, what we really fear is the lack of control we
have in various situations. We can’t stop the world powers from endangering our
lives. We can’t stop horrible illnesses from attacking us and our loved ones.
We can’t stop Big Business from raising the cost of living to ridiculous
heights. We can’t stop the companies we work for from downsizing to the point
of laying us off simply so they can enjoy greater profits. The list goes on and
on.
One of my favorite scriptures really helps me on those
sleepless nights:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good
courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
–Joshua 1:9 KJV
Let’s take a look at it. First of all, this is not a
suggestion, but a command. We are to be strong and courageous. We are not to be
afraid or discouraged. Why? Because Our Dear Heavenly Father is with us
wherever we go.
Not only is Our Dear Heavenly Father with us; He is in
control (Isaiah 55:8-12). His will, not mankind’s, will be done, and His will
is always scriptural. His will is in step with His commands – always! Just as
we are commanded to worship only the one true God and not to misuse his name;
to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy; to honor our parents; and just as we
are commanded not to murder, cheat on our spouse, steal, lie, or covet that
which is not ours, Our Dear Heavenly Father’s will also follows those commands
(Exodus 20:3-17).
Those words, the Ten Commandments, tell us how we can live
in peace with ourselves and others. We need only to live by Our Dear Heavenly
Father’s commands. Then, we will have much less to feel guilty about and much
less to worry about. Then, we can be strong, courageous, and unafraid, for we
will know that we are on the right path. Is that not the peace we seek for our
own lives?
Jesus borrowed from the Book of Leviticus when he offered
the second commandment as “Love thy neighbor as thyself”:
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people,
but thou shalt love thy neighbour . . .
–Leviticus 19:18 KJV
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:31 KJV
How much peace we find when we love others, rather than
when we remember every mistake or misdeed they ever did to us! What happened
long ago ceases to be important. In today’s language, we might say, “Life
happens,” “He goofed big time,” or “Get over it; he’s human.”
Indeed, we are all humans, and we all make mistakes. And,
so, we come to another commandment:
Judge not lest ye be judged.
–Matthew 7:1-5 KJV
It’s true. Just as soon as we accuse someone of saying or
doing something they should not have said or done, we come to realize that we have
done the same thing. The pot really should not call the kettle black, for we
are all kettles, and we all have black marks against us. So, let’s let
ourselves off the hook by letting others off the hook. We will find peace
there, too!
Be well, be happy, be safe.
Keep the faith! Keep the peace!
* The King James
Version of the Holy Bible is in the public domain.
