The God of Inner Peace

 

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Is 54:10)

If I desire the gift of inner peace and bring my desire to prayer, I can be sure of one thing—I am going to meet the giver of peace. So who is this God of Peace?

Wisdom, in the Bible, is often seen as a person. Ben Sira remembers how his heart was stirred and how much he desired wisdom. He says he grappled with wisdom and directed his soul to her. In this energetic relationship, wisdom is freely given to him and with her the gift of much serenity. In his advice, he implores me to surrender to the wisdom of God, for inner peace cannot be bought by money or work. I can only open myself, heart and soul, to the God of Peace:

My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her. I directed my soul to her, and in purity I found her. With her I gained understanding from the first; therefore I will never be forsaken. My heart was stirred to seek her; therefore I have gained a prize possession. I opened my mouth and said, “Acquire wisdom for yourselves without money. Put your neck under her yoke, and let your souls receive instruction; it is to be found close by. See with your own eyes that I have labored but little and found for myself much serenity.” (Sir 51:19–21, 25–27)

Jesus promised to send me the Spirit. Within the same promise, he wants to give me his peace. This peace is not the world’s peace. It is not given as the world might try through wealth, workshops, or the accumulation of things. It disperses fears and troubles because it is the presence and promise of Jesus to be with me. Inner peace never stands alone; it is always experienced in divine relationship.

I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (Jn 14:25–27)

St. Paul also encourages me not to be afraid. He writes that in gentleness and joy I can rely on God because our God is the God of Peace. This peace is so special that it surpasses all human understanding—it is full of the mystery of divine love. It is richer than ordinary peace because it is not a lack of noise or a mood, but it is a relational grace, guarding my heart and near to my heart.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gen- tleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4–7)

In steadfast love, the Lord makes a covenant of peace with me. The gospels reveal the fullness of this compassion—God becomes human in Jesus and reconciles all creation to himself by making peace through the Cross. This is union of love and peace at their most potent.

In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Col 1:19–20)

In many ways I experience God’s peace through the Son of God himself. When Jesus responds directly to my need, he gives me inner peace as a second gift, a deep resonance of my new life.

Thus he heals the woman with the chronic haemorrhage, saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mk 5:34). He forgives the woman who was a sinner, saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk 7:50). He explains his Father’s deepest desire: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78–79).

And in the presence of fear, when the disciples felt their boat was sinking, he says to the wind and sea, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk 4:39), just as he would for anyone facing the terrors of life. Later, weeping over the city of Jerusalem, before his passion, he says, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!” (Lk 19:42).

Stirred heart, untroubled heart, guarded heart, heart going in peace— whichever I am, from the above I can appreciate the intimacy of God’s inner peace. Where desire is born there it is answered—in the heart at peace in its lover and Creator.

In steadfast love, the Lord makes a covenant of peace with me. The gospels reveal the fullness of this compassion—God becomes human in Jesus and reconciles all creation to himself by making peace through the Cross. This is union of love and peace at their most potent.

In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Col 1:19–20)

In many ways I experience God’s peace through the Son of God himself. When Jesus responds directly to my need, he gives me inner peace as a second gift, a deep resonance of my new life.

Thus he heals the woman with the chronic haemorrhage, saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mk 5:34). He forgives the woman who was a sinner, saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk 7:50). He explains his Father’s deepest desire: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in dark- ness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78–79).

And in the presence of fear, when the disciples felt their boat was sinking, he says to the wind and sea, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk 4:39), just as he would for anyone facing the terrors of life. Later, weeping over the city of Jerusalem, before his passion, he says, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!” (Lk 19:42).

Stirred heart, untroubled heart, guarded heart, heart going in peace— whichever I am, from the above I can appreciate the intimacy of God’s inner peace. Where desire is born there it is answered—in the heart at peace in its lover and Creator.