"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27 KJV)
"I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let then not return to their foolish ways. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so the land will be filled with his glory. Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven. Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps." (Psalm 85:8-13 NLT)
There are a couple of things at work here, one has to do with what the Lord gives, while the other is the way in which we are to receive it. In other words, is it going to be yours, and if so, what are you going to do with it! If the Lord gives you peace, the kind of peace that this world could never give, what then can trouble you or make you afraid!
We started the Book of Isaiah last night at church, blowing through the first five chapters. I wish we could have spent a little more time in the section that had all the, "Wow's," because much of that speaks very much to what is happening in our country right now. The biggest Wow, is the one most famously talked about, Isaiah 5:20, which says, "Wow unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweat, and sweet for bitter!"
First of all, there must be a separation between all the above, which has got to be something that makes the two opposites be opposed to each other. Then, it is our responsibility to take a stand for what is good and right and holy; while standing against that which is evil, and wrong, and wicked!
In case that doesn't answer your question about how peace enters into the equation, the peace that Jesus gives us is absolutely free and is abundantly given; but it does take effort on our part to hold onto it! We cannot continue living in sin, and have peace that passing all understanding, because will do not have the real understanding of the cost for that peace!
That is the point of most of the Book of Isaiah; that God blesses those that obey Him, but wow to those that do not...
"Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: "The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master's care - but Israel doesn't know its master. My people don't recognize my care for them."" (Isaiah 1:2-3 NLT)
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