Let Peace Rule!

At six o’clock in the morning on February 24, people in Kyiv, Donbas, Odessa and other Ukrainian cities woke up to the explosions of missiles and shells hitting streets and apartment buildings. It was an opening salvo of the largest land incursion in Europe since World War II as Russian soldiers and tanks rolled across the border, thrusting Ukraine into a state of war.

Hundreds of barricades were thrown up in the capital Kyiv. Some were heavy concrete slabs and sandbags piled more than two stories high, while others appeared more haphazard, with hundreds of books used to weigh down stacks of tires. Altogether the bunkers formed the city’s bulwark against approaching Russian armored columns. Yet they did little to stop daily aerial bombings and missiles hitting apartments, schools and people driving in their cars.

In the panic, millions fled. Others, fearing being shot by a Russian ambush while fleeing, stayed and either joined the defense effort or hunkered down in shelters.

One Kyiv resident, Liza Borysova, told CNBC she “has an agreement with her best friend to call one another to make sure they are awake in the event of an air attack warning, which often comes through official and unofficial Telegram channels.

“‘People are literally afraid to sleep, because then they might not get to the bunkers or pack their things quickly enough,’ when the bomb warnings go off, she said.”

Both those remaining to fight and those fleeing Ukraine are wracked with anxiety over the turmoil that so suddenly befell them. Despite international and regional effort to bring peace, it strayed farther and farther from reach—and so did Ukrainians’ hope of a positive future.

Yet we know the Bible’s promise that Christ will soon bring true peace to this war-wrecked world. We as the saints will rule with Him.

Though we are armed with this hope, however, we are still prone to worrying. We do not have to live in a war zone to have anxious thoughts. Anxiousness—which is characterized by inner turmoil, overwhelming unease, being distraught with worry, and vexed by uncertainty—can crop up any day.

This is especially true when various trials affect us. It could be a criticizing boss who pressures you to break God’s command to observe the Sabbath or a relative causing strife because he does not agree with your beliefs. What about escalating grocery bills? Car troubles? Marital disagreements? Such concerns can leave us feeling restless, unsettled and unable to find peace.

This need not be the case. While those in the world are trapped in a cycle of war, Christ promised that Christians can have peace now.

When speaking with His disciples, Jesus stated: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

God’s people are supposed to have peace even when faced with trials and other negative situations. They need not be distracted at work with restless thoughts of marital troubles—nor need they be distraught by what food they will put on the table when times are economically tight.

To live each day peacefully, we must learn to employ an important principle found in Colossians 3:15, which states: “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.”

Put plainly, God has given His people free access to peace—His peace—but we must let it rule.

For anyone who has suffered anxious thoughts before, this can seem easier said than done! There is much more to the process of stamping out restless uncertainty than meets the eye.

Getting Out of the Way

The biggest roadblock to allowing God’s peace to rule our minds is that self-will gets in the way. Humanly, it is against our nature to relinquish control and let someone or something else govern our lives. Yet how well we apply Colossians 3:15 now is a key to our ultimate future: rulership with Jesus Christ.

Because of this, it has often been stated, “God will not give such authority to those who will not be ruled now.” It should come as no surprise that to develop lasting peace we must choose to let God be in charge. To be truly peaceful, His peace must be allowed to rule!

There are actions we can take to do this and remove our own wrong thoughts and desires from the equation. With diligence, these will allow the peace of God to govern our minds.

Live the Law: Most times, our problems and worries stem from being out of step with God’s Law—His commands, statutes, precepts and judgments.

On the other hand, “Great peace have they which love Your law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psa. 119:165). In other words, those who practice and meditate on God’s Law will never stumble.

To truly love the Commandments, we must understand them well. This involves time and effort. Review certain scriptures so they become committed to memory. Once they are a permanent mainstay in your mind, these passages can quickly be recalled when peace is threatened and can be used to restore rule.

Cast Your Cares: Anxiety also comes from not giving our problems to God. I Peter 5:7 commands each individual to cast “all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” Other reliable Bible versions render the word “care” as anxiety or worries.

We must daily turn our cares, anxieties and worries over to God in prayer. Make a habit of doing this every morning and at any time during the day when worry starts to rear its head (Rom. 12:12). Keep in mind that those whose minds buzz with troubles and uncertainty often are not obeying this command to the fullest.

King David was diligent in casting his cares on God. Many of his psalms are detailed, heartfelt prayers that clearly express his troubles to Him. In Psalm 55, he tells God that his “heart is sore pained,” that “the terrors of death are fallen upon” him, and “fearfulness and trembling are come upon” him.

But later in the song, David states, “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (vs. 22).

Many of the psalms are similar and show how we should go to God in prayer. We can employ these same methods to help ensure lasting peace in our lives.

Yet, to experience this peace of mind, you must truly believe that God will take care of issues. Sometimes we can feel uneasy or even anxious because we are striving to solve problems our own way. Pray that God gives you the faith to accept His will, which often occurs in ways we do not expect (Prov. 16:9; 19:21; Jer. 10:23).

God wants to give you the desires of your heart, but you must first trust Him to bring it when it is right (Psa. 37). He will often test to see whether you will submit to His will first and put it before your own. The more you resist Him and try to do what you think is best, the less peace you will have.

Organize Your Life: We often bring trials and stresses upon ourselves. In other words, our bad habits and decisions hinder us from being at peace. Disorganization and chaos bring confusion, and these wrong actions must be rooted out of our lives. This allows us to be more like God, who “is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (I Cor. 14:33).

If anxiety stems from always being late to appointments and work, reassess your routines. A cluttered house can cause you to fall behind and hinder your ability to complete responsibilities. Additionally, poor financial budgeting causes undue stress.

Human nature will allow problems to linger for months or even years if left unresolved. Strive to tackle them—make a plan and stick to it!—and bring decency and order to your life. Seek help from the Church’s literature, counsel with your minister, and ask for support from friends and family to eradicate wrong habits. In doing so, you will limit unnecessary, self-inflicted worry.

Living the Law, casting our cares, and organizing our lives merely gets us out of the way so that God’s peace can rule. We must also understand how it governs our minds so we can further remove fearful thinking.

How God’s Peace Rules

The Greek word for “rule” in Colossians 3:15 simply means to govern or arbitrate (to judge). Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament adds the word “umpire” to the definition.

In the American sport of baseball, the umpire is the referee completely in charge of administering the rules of play. Every player voluntarily gives authority to the umpire before the game can begin and understands that he makes the final call. This is done to keep peace while playing.

Players occasionally forget their roles. Feeling as though they “saw the play from a better angle,” they sometimes challenge the ruling authority and thereby disrupt the game.

When this occurs, events usually take a turn for the worse. Everything from arguing, yelling and animated tantrums occur, and the peaceful pastime turns into a fruitless battle of wills.

Similarly, God has rules—His Law. He wants His peace—which comes from the Holy Spirit—to be our umpire.

If we break any of those rules, however, we will not hear a loud voice shouting “Foul ball!” or “You’re out!” God’s Spirit works differently.

If there is a problem in your life, you will feel the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit telling you that you are out of step with God’s Law (I Kgs. 19:12). In such situations, this “voice” comes in the form of you being uncomfortable about a situation or feeling as though something is off in your life. Left alone, these thoughts can result in anxiousness, loss of sleep, stress or a racing mind.

Often you will know what the problem or difficult decision is in your life. For instance, you might be thinking of broaching a topic with a friend who has been treating you badly, or you are becoming more aware you need to break a bad habit. In such situations, it is easy to become so caught up in worrisome thoughts that we can forget to cast our cares on God.

Whether or not you know the problem, the solution is always the same. Give your cares to God by practicing Romans 12:12 and being “instant in prayer.” Ask Him to help you see His will. This can be a short prayer if you are not at home. You can always make a longer, detailed supplication later.

When we are led to see where our thoughts or actions are not according to God’s will, we can go to Him in confidence to ask for forgiveness and help.

Employ the Tools of Growth

Sometimes a quick prayer is all it takes to put your mind at ease. If a worry persists, however, you will need to take further action.

Battling against anything, especially anxiety, requires effort. The more severe a trial or problem, the greater level of persistence and endurance is required. Be willing to set time aside to employ all the tools of growth God has given. The goal is for Christians to become more aligned with God’s perfect will.

Corrective Bible study must accompany heartfelt prayer. By communing with God in this systematic way, we become more settled and gain confidence in His willingness to guide our lives. Combining prayer and study will also help cut through obstacles clouding our judgment so that we can see problems clearly (Heb. 4:12). The result is more peace of mind.

It is helpful to review Bible topics related to a specific problem. For example, if you are having an interpersonal issue, you could review Matthew 18:15-17. If it is marital troubles, turn to Ephesians 5 and make sure you are fulfilling your role in the marriage. If your budget is tight and you cannot afford clothing or food, go to Matthew 6. The same chapter can be reviewed if you are coveting an item that is outside your means.

Another often-overlooked step is reviewing Church literature on whatever problem you are having. Refreshing yourself on God’s truths is usually all it takes to find a solution to the problem or gain peace about a particular situation.

In addition to using Church literature, it is beneficial to read all the Bible verses that include the word “peace.” Not surprisingly, the Bible is a book about peace. The term is found 429 times in 400 verses!

Just knowing God is focused on this subject is, in its own way, settling. Principles found throughout the Bible clearly show that He can provide a solution to any problem we encounter. Why not let Him take the lead?

Yet drastic times call for drastic measures. When severe trials strike, we must draw close to God—and quickly! In such instances, fasting—going for a period of time (usually 24 hours) without food and water—is an effective way to do this.

Christians understand that one’s spiritual focus begins to sharpen when we remove physical distractions. Going without the basics of everyday life attunes our minds to the only Being with any staying power—God!

Fasting also binds Satan. This inhibits him from broadcasting attitudes of disquiet and doubt. James 4:7-10 explains this process: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted [fast], and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

If Satan sees that you will not give in to his temptations and are persistent in seeking God’s will, he will flee from you. He cannot affect you when you are close to God. This voluntary act of humility also comes with the promise of abundant peace (Psa. 37:11).

By lowering ourselves in this way, we show God that we earnestly desire His help to solve our problems. This gives His Spirit more room to clear our minds of negative or anxious thoughts.

If a problem persists or is urgent, however, it is also prudent to seek the counsel of a minister.

Let It Keep You

In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul summarized the astounding benefits of God’s peace. Verse 6 begins with a command: “Be careful for nothing”—the Greek means give no anxious thought to anything—“but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

When you focus on your many blessings and are thankful for them, you will naturally be less anxious about uncertainties in your life.

The next verse shows that the results will be obvious: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (vs. 7).

The phrase “shall keep” is defined by Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible as “to be a watcher in advance” and “to mount guard as a sentinel.” It can also mean to figuratively “hem in” and “protect.”

Put simply, God’s peace prevents hostile invasion. His Holy Spirit acts as a sort of early detection system against irrational thoughts and attitudes. Trust the still, small voice of God’s Spirit. This “sentinel” will help you get out in front of your natural thoughts to protect against a potential onslaught!

Paul added another layer of defense that can eradicate restless thinking. Verse 8 states: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Make sure that what you put into your mind is worthwhile. Realize that Satan, as “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), wants to fill your mind with lies, make you feel as if you have been treated unjustly, and inject you with unbelief. The people with whom you spend your time, what movies and music you choose, and the websites you visit all factor into this.

Paul continued in Philippians 4 with another command: “Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (vs. 9).

Said another way, you must wholeheartedly live God’s Way to have true peace. The longer you are in the Church, the more deeply you will understand the commands of the Bible. Yet you must do them (Psa. 111:10).

The awesome result is that you will have the “peace of God, which passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).

Expanding Peace

With each trial and bout of anxiety you overcome, you will grow stronger. John 15:2 explains that God prunes “every branch that bears fruit” so that “it may bring forth more fruit.” This includes peace, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

The best part is that this fruit can be shared! Just as you might choose to give homegrown peaches to your friends and neighbors, so too can you share the spiritual fruit you are developing with those around you.

Most of this occurs through your example. When you have more peace in your life and have grace under fire, your presence will deescalate tense situations. You will better be able to give sound advice to others on how to overcome anxiety and worry.

No matter whether we are dealing with our families, fellow brethren in God’s Church, or those in the world, we can bring peace, which promotes unity (Eph. 4:3). By striving for a continual peaceful state, it will follow us in every situation we encounter. And when we do so, most interpersonal problems cease to exist.

Have you ever considered that if you work hard to live an anxiety-free life, you can actually affect the size of local congregations? When Church members actively seek peace in their own lives, God can call more people to a peaceful environment where they can grow (I Cor. 7:15), which ultimately leads to Church growth.

Yet the Church benefits in other ways also. When your mind is free from uncertainty and doubt, your prayers focus more on others and God’s Work. The entire First Commission, preaching the “gospel of peace” (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15) to the whole world as a witness, will be much more powerful and efficient if the entire Church works at living peacefully together. The more we do so, the more we show God that He can use us in the administration of peace to the entire world.

Future Role

Soon, the wars ravaging people across the world will be put to an end. After the Return of Jesus Christ, “the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:7).

Ruling alongside God in that Kingdom is contingent on what we do now. This brings further meaning and renewed importance to the Romans 12:18 command to “live peaceably with all men”! We must continue employing the tools of growth that God has given to us through His Spirit.

Decide to let the peace of God rule your thoughts and keep your mind. Strive to minimize letting everyday stresses affect your state of mind. Doing so will directly help the Church and the Work.

Sleep easy every night, be different from those in the world around you, and allow God’s peace to rule you now so that you can soon govern with Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace!