“But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace.” Gal5.22 ESV
Christians often use the word 'peace' to describe a sort of emotional contentment- a good feeling that all is well. This of course, looks at only one aspect of the peace of Christ. The modern notion is to seek this feeling, and its opposite, the avoidance of all inner turmoil. We often base decisions to do or not to do something by saying, 'I have or do not have a peace about it.' Absence or presence of this 'peace' and by it we mean a feeling, is in effect used to discern the Lord's will. We reason that if I have no peace about something then God must not be in it. After all the fruit of the Spirit is 'peace.' But the peace of the Spirit is not so much a feeling as it is a resignation; a reconciliation to God's will. There may be even great emotional distress as a result of what God reveals as his will. At least until we surrender to it. Jesus certainly did not have an emotional 'peace' about going to the cross. His peace was in resigning himself to the Father's will. Certainly there followed a contentment, joy, and confidence that his present trial was the Father's design for His happiness.
We should not seek the emotion but the bringing together of all things under faith and love to God. The proper emotion will follow. Peace is first something you do before it is something you feel. 5/1/2008 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
