According to the Bible, the peace of God, “which transcends all understanding,” is the harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit that supersedes all our earthly circumstances. It is a calmness that trusts in the ultimate power and grace of God. It will guard our hearts and our minds.
Nearly all of the Apostle Paul’s letters start with the phrase; “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And throughout scripture, we find that peace is defined as a blessing from God and harmonious with His character.
This peace from God can be described as a tranquil state of appreciation and faith when we submit to and trust in His commandments. It requires a mixture of humility and courage to experience His peace, seeking beyond the mere abilities of our own understanding.
The thing is though, in today’s world of constant upheaval and concerns we can easily lose sight of the peace of God in our lives – and the many stressors that we face can leave us feeling deflated and floundering under the pressures of everyday life and ministry.
According to an article by Carey Nieuwhof “As the pandemic recedes, a new issue is emerging for leaders. Economists are calling it “The Great Resignation.” Studies are showing that at least 40% of workers are contemplating quitting their jobs.“
Church leaders, pastors, minsters, officers etc. are not impervious to this trend as data collected last year by the Barna pastor’s report showed that in the United States, 38% indicated that they have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year, and almost 25% felt unhealthy due to the effects of ministry and life on their well-being.
In March this year they drilled down a bit further to identify the reasons pastors give when asked why they’ve thought about stepping down – 56% say that “the immense stress of the job” has factored into their thoughts on leaving, while 43% say that they “feel lonely and isolated.”
The thing is, ministry (as many of us who are involved in it would agree), is constantly filled with a high level of stress. We are all under immense pressure and have been since the advent of Covid lockdowns – we’ve had to constantly ‘pivot’, adapt, morph and change so that the church continues to function in one way or another, and to a large degree we haven’t stopped – at least not enough to recharge our drained resources properly.
Proverbs 14:30 tells us:
“Peace of mind means a healthy body…”
(New Century Version).
Proverbs also tells us to trust in the Lord and seek His will for our lives.
Rick Warren has recognised that we are all stressed, worn-out and many are figuratively at the end of their rope. Maybe you’re even ready to resign because of the stress.
This stress not only impacts our churches, but it also adversely affects our own health.
In this weeks Ministry Toolkit he provides the following encouragement and four ways in which we can experience the kind of peace that only God can give.
Too much stress isn’t healthy. The good news is God doesn’t leave us empty-handed as we struggle with stress. The Bible has a lot to say about peace. Whether it’s spiritual peace (peace with God), emotional peace (peace of God), or relational peace (peace with other people), God’s Word provides a pattern of life that leads to the peace we’re all looking for.
Jesus once said, “I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 New Century Version).
The peace of God isn’t something you earn. It’s not something you need to psych yourself up to get. It’s not something God gives you for being a pastor. The peace of God is a gift. It’s totally different from the kind of peace that you get from the world. The world’s peace is fragile and temporary.
God’s peace is constant and eternal. It isn’t based on the newest fad. It has nothing to do with your circumstances. Only God can give you the kind of peace you truly need.
So how do you experience the kind of peace only God can give?
- Obey God’s principles.
- Accept God’s pardon.
- Focus on God’s presence.
- Trust God’s purpose.
Read his article to get a fuller understanding of these steps.
He concludes by saying; I don’t know what stress you’re facing right now. Maybe it’s in your marriage. Maybe it’s in your church. I do know that God wants to give you his peace. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t abandoned you.
God is ready to give you a greater peace than you can even imagine right now.
Much is being made of the great resignation, or the great reshuffling at the moment with so much uncertainty in the world around us.
So you may also be interested in reading this article written by Sam Rainer of Church Answers entitled Don’t Succumb to the Great Resignation which explores six ways in which you can renew the purpose of your ministry and make it meaningful again.
In all of this uncertainty and stress that we’re faced with in the current environment, we need to seek His face and discern for ourselves what it is that God is guiding us towards – for then we will truly find peace.
Blessings ’til next time 🙂
The life and times of Perry... 