What is peace of mind? Is it a thought, a feeling, or a choice we have to make daily? How can we be serene in a world of perpetual uncertainty, stress, conflicts, and crises? These questions have been on my mind for years. However, my perspective on peace has changed over the decades.
In my 20s, life seemed exciting and motivating. My goal was to explore the world, meet new people, and have new experiences. By the time I turned 30, I had lived in three countries in Europe (Romania, my native land, Hungary and Spain) and had work projects in the UK and Denmark. It was a time of growth and learning. However, exhaustion and anxiety started to creep in, and my soul yearned for rest and calm, for a deeper meaning to life than wandering from one place to another and leaping from one job to another and from one group of people to another.
Little did I know about God’s plan for my life. In 2011, He led me to a group of Christian missionaries who soon became my dear friends. As a volunteer for their NGO, I found a new purpose, giving back to the community. As time passed, my friends’ genuine kindness, love, and care for people shone through more and more. They have always had a peaceful aura, true joy, faith and wisdom. They gently took my hand and brought me to Jesus, and I will be forever grateful to them.
I thought that once I opened my heart to the Lord, my path would be smooth. However, my life still involves heartbreak, failure, and instability, and I still make wrong choices and mistakes. Jesus said that in the world we would have tribulations. However, in Him we can have peace, and for that we should be of good cheer. (See John 16:33.) He also said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
We can always turn to Jesus in times of chaos and trouble. His words and promises support and comfort us. His compassion and wisdom have always been there for me, helping me find calm and strength, faith and joy.
So, my mind might perceive peace as an experience or a state. But ultimately, we find peace when we trust God and experience His steadfast, unconditional, and everlasting love.