One of my good neighbors likes to say, “peace out” when she leaves. I love that phrase! In it she is really expressing her wish that we might enjoy a trouble-free life of peace. So is peace a result of good planning and flawless execution of those plans? Does it come to us by some random cosmic force? Can I find it in myself? The answer is scarier and better: peace comes to us from God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ.


Scarier because God does in fact control the universe and rightfully demands our full obedience, allegiance, and love. Scarier because none of us has lived up to those demands. As such we don’t deserve blessing; we deserve punishment.


But better because we have peace with God through the work of Jesus. At the cross He took the punishments we deserve and gives us His record of perfect obedience, allegiance, and love. Better because God is the only One who can give us peace to extend beyond our circumstances or feelings. Better because He gives it to us; it is not contingent on our efforts.