I woke up this morning with this phrase ringing in my head, “If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive” Ya’ll I’ve SAID THIS! I’ve liked the post, shared it to my stories … I’ve cheered this phrase on! But is it Biblical? I mean it sounds good, but is grounded in Truth?
So, I did a little digging around. What is Peace exactly? I’m not going to unpack all of what I found but if you wanna dig deep into a teaching on Peace here’s the link to Pastor Donald Gibson of MercyGate Church, sermon on Peace.
Peace isn’t something you strive or work for, it’s given and grown.
When I looked up the word peace in the Word as directly connected to Jesus saying it, He was giving it to someone. “Go in peace”, “I leave with you my peace”, “…so you may have peace”, “Peace be with you”. This tells me that there is a source of peace and that peace is NOT simply a circumstantial state of being.
A lot of times we exchange the definition of peace for comfort.
“If it disrupts your comfort … it costs too much”. Well I hate to bust the bubble but the Lord never said we would live a life of comfort. Don’t get me wrong we LOVE comfort! Comfort is great! One of the greatest marketing strategies is how can we make your life easier, more comfortable, less stressed, ect. But Jesus would not have said He would send us the comforter if we were meant to live in a state of comfort all the time.
We want spiritualize comfort by calling it Peace. Peace is a spirit that come from above and dwells in us. As Christ followers, Peace should be evident in us and our lives as the Spirit of the Lord is evident and working in us. This(spirit) is the Peace that surpasses all understanding. This(spirit) is the Peace that outlasts the circumstances all around us. This(spirit) is the Peace that was given by Jesus when he healed.
SO… I agree with this statement as long as we define peace.
If it costs you the Spirit of God that’s in you .. it’s too expensive. By the way nothing can “take your Peace” you have to willing relinquish it. So don’t … just don’t.
Keep your Peace, grow in it and share it with others.
John 14:27 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.