The famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov once wrote: “We shall find peace. We shall hear angels. We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.” That’s a magnificent idea, but is it just wishful thinking? With such upheaval and conflict in the world today, we are likely to ask if there is any hope of finding peace, both in the social sphere and in our inner being.
The good news is that even where chaos reigns, there is a way to find peace. True, it won’t come without effort. We must align ourselves with God’s truth and will, but if we do our part, He promises to give us peace. As the Spanish saying goes, “As much as peace may cost, it’s never expensive.” This encourages us to seek peace regardless of the cost. It is worth it! In her article on page three, Marie Alvero shows us that to attain peace, as with anything else, we must train for it—through prayer, reading God’s Word, and putting our faith into action. That is true for finding inner peace as well as peace with our fellow man.
When we seek God, it is possible to have peace that surpasses our understanding (Philippians 4:7), and His peace is not contingent on external circumstances. In fact, God can make all things work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He is all-powerful and He can cause even a tragedy to become a triumph.
God can give us the peace we long for; peace is part of His very essence. He can shine His peace into our hearts, enabling us to reflect His light to others who are searching for tranquility. You may not be a public figure or have influential means to promote peace, but all of us, from the lowliest to the loftiest, can first find peace of heart and mind through Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and then work to bring peace to others through our kind words and loving actions.
It is amazing to see that peace can even be found in places where disasters have struck. Be sure to read about the joy and fun therapy used by John Patrick and his team after the Türkiye earthquake, and the unexpected faith and serenity that Simon Bishop discovered in some of the victims of a devastating typhoon in the Philippines.
May you, too, find peace even in the midst of chaos.