Peace in the Process
By Dean Collins
Sometimes, in the middle of the mess and stress that life brings, have you ever said or thought, “If I could just find some peace!”? I suspect all of us have experienced that moment and the desire for the noise, pressure, or difficulty to simply go away.
It is not uncommon for us to think or believe that our suffering or circumstances are entirely up to us. We often bring that same thinking into our relationship with God, believing that if we behave well, God loves us, but if we don’t, we experience suffering.
If you have ever felt that way, you are in good company. Before his conversion, the apostle Paul believed that living according to the laws of God was what was required to be in God’s favor. But when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his perspective changed. Paul came to realize that faith in Christ is the path to peace with God. He understood that peace is not simply the absence of conflict but is based on a right relationship with God.
Paul, who in his former life was an instigator of the pain and suffering experienced by those who chose to follow Jesus, came to understand that when we place our faith in Jesus, we are freed from the guilt and shame of our past. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live victoriously.
As Paul matured in his faith, he came to understand that while suffering is difficult, it can also be a pathway to being formed in Christ. Faith not only justifies us; it also brings us into the grace of God, which anchors us and helps us stand even as we go through hard times.
We live in a world where we are constantly offered instant gratification. Whatever we want to find, buy, use, or experience is often as close as our phones. We can purchase most things and have them delivered almost immediately. We have been so conditioned to expect our preferences to be satisfied quickly that we bring that same attitude into our spiritual walk. We want immediate relief from suffering and challenges, but we often fail to realize that God can use those very experiences to mature our faith.
Hear Paul’s words:
“But we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5, ESV)
In Philippians, Paul wrote that his great desire was to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection. Isn’t that the desire of everyone who wants to follow Jesus? We want to know him better, to understand more about him, and to live, love, and serve like him. Jesus is our Savior and Lord, but he also called us his friends in John 15. And, of course, we want to know and experience the power of the resurrection working in our lives now, fully trusting that this same power will one day bring us into Christ’s presence at our resurrection.
But according to Paul, we grow in intimacy with Jesus and mature in our faith by sharing in his sufferings. It is through our suffering that we can grow in faith. Paul knew firsthand that suffering could lead us to a deeper relationship with Jesus and a firm assurance of the hope we possess in Christ, both now and forever.
Father, today we choose to trust you fully in the midst of the suffering we face in our daily lives. Transform us as we walk through these difficult experiences for your glory. May others see you through us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Romans 5:1-11; Philippians 3:10-11 ESV
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