If we lived in a perfect world where there was no stress or anxiety just peace and love do you think people would seek God and reach out to be with him? Don’t you find yourself lifting up prayers when you want God’s help?

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 3-12 the blessed will be those who go through struggles in this world and trust in him. Those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted being insulted and falsely accused his name. Jesus did not say blessed are those who live their life free of any problems in this world.

Peter said believers are blessed when they cast all their anxiety and stress upon Jesus by trusting him and they will have strength to overcome them.

1 Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

We will have struggles and conflicts with those who do not love Jesus. Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but for believers not to yoke themselves with the people of this world.

Matthew 10: 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jesus wants his followers to be prepared for the times when stress and anxiety arises with those in this world. He does not want you to surrender to what they want to bring peace to them, Jesus wants you to give them what will give them peace with him.

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.

There is a difference between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace that the world gives. Do you know the difference?

Jesus said when we are in his peace it will keep your heart from being troubled and overcome what makes you afraid. The way the world tries to achieve peace will never give you complete rest from your troubles or freedom from your fears.

When you feel stressed or anxious do you give it up to Jesus or do you try to resolve it the way the world wants you to?

Paul overcame something he struggled with after he prayed to God 3 times to remove what he called the torn in his side, but God did not heal him, but told him that his grace was sufficient for him because it promised him eternal life. This made Paul overcome his suffering because eternal life with God meant more than his own life which gave him peace knowing his suffering will not be forever.

When you are stressed and anxious because of a difficult relationship you can find peace by agreeing to do what Jesus wants you do.

Philippians 4: 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

Those who love Jesus first believe in the peace we have in him because when we are in Jesus and do what agrees with him you know nothing can separate us from his love. When you love Jesus, you want others to have his peace. You want them to repent and find it and not perish. When you do not want Jesus’ peace for others his peace is no longer in your heart nor your love for him. This will keep you from finding his rest because you are not coming to him.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

When you come to Jesus with a gentle and humble heart following his teachings through the Holy Spirit you will find it not hard nor burdensome to do and will mature your love for him, and remain in his rest to overcome the anxieties of this world.

And to come to Jesus you need to put his teachings into practice to withstand the storms that will come and overcome them.

Matthew 7: 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Let the grace of God be your forever peace in everything you do.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn.