Peace

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:1-10).

Peace. We all say that we want it. We expect our government to seek it. We look to our military to bring it about. We expect our police to enforce it. Some are so desperate for peace that they spend money on psychiatrists to help them find it. Others resort to medication, alcohol or drugs to experience it. More than anything else, people want peace.

Since everyone wants it, why is peace so hard to find? And once found, why is peace so hard to hold on to? Where can we find peace that lasts?

Let’s begin by defining what peace is. Peace is what life is like when there is no stress. When there is no conflict, you have peace. When there is no pain, you have peace. When you are not in need, you have peace. Peace is what we feel when nothing is going wrong. Peace is what we feel when everything is going as it should.

You can see why peace is such a rare commodity. In a world where storms and fires and earthquakes destroy communities and kill people of all ages, how can you avoid the stress of being in need? In a world where cancer and heart disease and Alzheimer’s steal the health of body and soul, how can you avoid the stress of pain? In a world where terrorists believe that peace will only come about when everybody belongs to their radical sect of the Muslim faith, how can you avoid the stress of conflict?

Frankly, we human beings are not programmed to be content—not for very long. It’s been a few weeks since Christmas, now—how many of the kids you know have started asking for new toys or new clothes? How many are already making wish lists for their upcoming birthday? This simply reveals the constant discontent that lives within us all. Why do husbands and wives cheat on each other? Why do workers leave behind years of success in a career to take on a totally different kind of job? Why do people trade in the car that they bought new only twelve months ago? Why do people periodically rearrange the furniture and pictures in their homes? Why do people stop attending a church they grew up in and start worshipping someplace else? The problem is that they have become discontent. What was once shiny and exciting and new has become dull and ordinary and boring.

If you think about it, you will see that peace is often lost because, over time, we become discontent with it. Two countries, weary from years of war, will finally sit down and hammer out terms for peace. At first, everyone is delighted that the war is over; but as time goes by and memories of war begin to fade, the people on both sides start looking at the provisions of the peace treaty and become dissatisfied. Although the terms of peace have not changed, the attitude of the people has—and eventually war will break out once again, as each side seeks more than they got during the last round of negotiations.

In the human world, peace is part of a cycle. A period of stress comes to an end—health is restored by successful medical treatment, couples who were separated decide to reconcile, a family comes out of bankruptcy free from debt. What follows is a time of peace and contentment. But then something happens; we start to look inward, focusing on our wants, our needs. Since the cancer is in remission, why do I have to stay away from cigarettes? Sure, I’m glad that my wife and I are back together, but why can’t she get in better shape so that she’d look more like the hot babe who works in my office? Now with that ugly business of bankruptcy finally behind us, maybe it’s time to think about that RV and boat that we’ve always wanted for going up to the lake.

Once we have settled into a period of peace, we soon get bored. We start thinking about how things could be better—for us. Over time, we become dissatisfied—we want more. Because we think we don’t have everything we need, we start to feel stressed. This stress then leads to foolish decisions that only make matters worse. The person who had his stomach stapled gains weight as he starts eating improperly again. The woman who took her boyfriend back starts obsessing over each of his shortcomings and is soon ready to go clubbing on her own again. The business that struggled back from insolvency is soon burdened with new debts arising from unnecessary expenses like new office furniture and company-paid vacations for management. And so peace is traded away for renewed stress, leading to more consultation with doctors, relationship experts, and financial planners, as that lost peace is sought once more.

How do we break this cycle? How do we find peace and hang on to it? The key is in keeping our attention focused outside of ourselves. Peace always slips away when our attention turns inward and we start wanting more. Peace loses its luster when we start brooding about ourselves.

To be released from stress usually requires outside help. It usually takes a doctor to relieve the stress of medical problems. Couples usually reconcile only with the help of a relationship expert or supportive friends. Financial problems usually require the help of a credit counselor. It should come as no surprise, then, that if peace comes from outside ourselves, that is the direction we should keep our focus for continued peace.

Jesus is our source of real peace. He brought us peace with God through the shedding of His own holy blood upon the cross. Because the innocent Son of God died for us, we the guilty have been given the gift of peaceful relations with the God who hates sin but forgives the sinner. Jesus also brings us peace with each other; He enables we His followers to forgive each other as He first forgave us, and this forgiveness restores peace to our troubled relationships. Jesus even brings peace to nature. Ever since sin entered the world, storm and disease and death have made human life anything but peaceful; however, Jesus came to earth to conquer sin, and He repeatedly showed how even storms quieted at His command, the diseased were made healthy at His touch, and the dead were returned to life by His mercy. The Lord is our source of peace, so it only makes sense that if we want continuing peace, we keep our attention focused on Him.

Not that this is easy to do, as we see in today’s Old Testament lesson. In that long ago time, God tried to get young Samuel’s attention. But getting the boy’s attention was not an easy thing to do. Notice where Samuel was—he was sleeping in the temple, in God’s house of worship. Notice when God called to the boy—at night, when everything was quiet and still. And even then, when Samuel heard God calling to him, he did not realize the source of the words—three times he went to the head of the temple, assuming it was he who had called. It was only when the man of God told Samuel what was really going on, that the boy finally listened to God attentively.

The lesson is obvious—when God speaks to us, much of the time we are not receptive. Samuel was receptive because He was in God’s house, away from the distractions of the world. Samuel could hear God because, during the peace of the night, his thoughts were not preoccupied with the many things that needed to get done during a busy day. Samuel’s attention was turned to God because God’s priest clued him in to what was going on.

But what about you? Do you expect to hear God speak to you if you don’t make time to be in His house of worship? Do you expect to hear God speak to you if your life is so cluttered with rushing around that you are never still enough to listen? Do you expect to hear God speak to you if you are uninterested in what the minister wants to teach you about the Almighty?

I’m not saying that you should expect God to speak to you in the way that He spoke to Samuel, but don’t assume that God is completely silent. Haven’t you had the experience of walking along feeling sorry for yourself, when suddenly the clouds break and allow a ray of sunshine to bath you in unexpected light? Haven’t you prayed for hope in a desperate situation and seen that prayer answered? God often communicates His love and concern without words, whether you notice it or not.

Of course, God does communicate with you using words—the words of Holy Scripture. This is where we are told that Grace and peace [can] be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2). This is where we are told that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). It is within the pages of God’s Book that He teaches us how to live in holiness and peace, He comforts us when sin brings stress into our lives, and He extends to us the offer of everlasting peace in paradise. God is ready to speak with you any time, any where—all you need do is open His Book and give Him your undivided attention.

Do you want peace—peace that lasts? Then keep your attention focused on the heavenly bringer of peace. Look to young Samuel as your example. Spend as much time in God’s house as you can. Schedule time each day to clear your mind so that you can be receptive to God’s call. Avail yourself of the men God has placed in His church to teach you and advise you. Say with Samuel, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. And when you listen, really listen, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.