The Peace Of Jesus

People who struggle with anger issues, or being short-tempered is because they are suffering on the inside with either or all of the following:

1. Insecurity - how quickly a person gets angry is based on how insecure they are.
2. Unforgiveness - they have people who have hurt them, but they haven't forgiven them.
3. They are afraid to admit that they need help (egoistic) - they have a mental image of themselves of who or what they are, but when that image is challenged by situations, circumstances, or other people, they end up snapping.
4. They are afraid of failures - they are afraid of losing sometimes in life, as they only want to see success. They are afraid to see, or admit, that they lack endurance.
5. They are afraid that they would be blamed - they tend to quickly blame the outcome on someone else, so as to prevent anyone from blaming them.

Without analyzing themselves based on the above points, people usually conclude by saying its due to stress, depression, overwhelming requirements, etc., rather than identifying the root of the problem. Hence they try to cope up with life by doing meditation, yoga, exercises, traveling, etc. When it does not solve the problem, people tend to resort to taking medication like sleeping pills, anti-depressant pills, or even get into smoking and drinking. The only way for such people to have some peace in their lives is by doing something. According to the world, unless we do something, we will not have peace. The ability of a person to have peace or not, is completely dependent on the person themself.

It is to such people, our Lord Jesus says:

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" - John 14:27

Jesus being a Jew, would have used the word shalom (שלום) instead of the English word peace. When Jews get together, they greet one another by saying "shalom". The Hebrew word "shalom" (שלום) is a very rich word, which not only means "peace", but according to Strong's dictionary, it also means, peace with God in a covenant relationship, safe, well, completeness, soundness, quiet, tranquility, contentment, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, familiar, fare, favour, great, rest, salute, wholly.

How can a person have access to the "shalom" (שלום) of Jesus?

Firstly, God's Word says that Jesus payed the price for all our sins, and that we are the righteousness of God in Jesus, in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Hence the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us, as stated in Hebrews 13:5. King David in one of his psalm's said "blessed is the man whom the Lord does not impute sin". This was echoed by apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans (Romans 4:8). Therefore, when the Lord looks at us today, He does not look upon our sins. The Lord says:

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" - Hebrews 8:12

The Greek word for "no more" used in the above verse is "ou me" which is a double negative, strengthening the denial, which means to say "never by any chance". Moreover, the Bible also says:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace (שלום) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" - Romans 5:1

Knowing this truth gives us the security that we are loved by the Lord, and that God the Father will never look upon our sins, as it has been payed for by the precious Blood of His Beloved Son.

Secondly, God's Word says to forgive because we have been forgiven:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" - Ephesians 4:32

When we are conscious of how much we are forgiven, we develop a tendency to forgive and to love one another. Our Lord Jesus said, that those who know that they have been forgiven much, will love much, in Luke 7:47. Before the cross, under the law, Jesus had mentioned to forgive, in order to be forgiven, when He was narrating the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:12 and Luke 11:4). After the cross, under Grace, Jesus through the apostle Paul says to forgive because we have been forgiven. Jesus also said:

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" - John 13:34

The more we know how much our Lord Jesus loves us, the more we end up loving one another. This eliminates any form of unforgiveness that resides in us by giving us a forgiving heart. Apostle John who leaned on Jesus's Heart and listened to the Heartbeat of Heaven said:

"We love him, because he first loved us" - 1 John 4:19

Thirdly, when we are secure in the Love of our Heavenly Father through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, we develop an attitude that we are nothing, and that Christ is everything, because we come to the realization that it is God who works in us and it is not our smarts or ability. The Lord is the one who puts the desire in our hearts, and sees to that it is fulfilled. God's Word says:

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" - Philippians 2:13

When we have a creative idea, or some plan for our future, etc., remember it came from the Lord, as He is the source of all wisdom. When it comes from the Lord, He will see to that it gets fulfilled, it is not our responsibility, but He takes the complete responsibility. Apostle Paul admitted to the people at Corinth that it was not because of his hard work that he laboured more than the rest of the apostles, but rather it was solely by the Grace of Lord. Apostle Paul said:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" - 1 Corinthians 15:10

Grace is unmerited favor, and it is a gift from the Lord. Realizing this truth that we are nothing but Jesus is everything breaks our ego and gives us the humility to depend on the Lord for everything, rather than depending on our own human strength. King David, being the king of Israel depended on the Lord for help and said:

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" - Psalm 121:1-2

Fourthly, when we are depending on the Lord for everything, He makes every failures of ours as a stepping stone. We may fall, but when we are walking under God's Will, He will sustain us (Proverbs 24:16). We need not have to win every battle, because some battles are not worth fighting. But when the Lord is with us, He will fight for us (Exodus 14:14). God's Word says:

"...Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" - Isaiah 43:1-2

When we are conscious that the Lord is with us, we do not fear any circumstances or failures. The Lord takes us through the ups and downs of life so as to build our character, we need to trust Him. The Lord only disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:6). Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" - Romans 8:38-39

Lastly, we need not have to be afraid of being blamed or condemned. The Bible says:

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" - Romans 8:34

When we are conscious that the Lord does not condemn us, but is continuously interceding for us seated at the Father's Right Hand, rather than end up blaming others, we develop an attitude to own the situation or outcome and grow. This is a quality of a good leader.

Worldly people would advice that sometimes you would have to vent out your anger on other people so you can calm yourself, but God's Word says:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" - 1 Peter 5:7

The Greek word for "cast" used above is the word "epiripto" which means "to throw". In other words, throw all your cares, anxieties, concerns, worries, etc., to the Lord because He cares for you. The above verse actually comes from Psalm 55:22, where the Hebrew word used for "cast" is "shalak" - "שלך", which means to "hurl, fling, throw, cast". When you throw your cares and worries to the Lord, the peace (שלום) of the Lord which cannot be comprehended by human wisdom or understanding shall rule on our hearts like a military guard or a watchman. God's Word says:

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:6-7

The Greek word for "keep" used in the above verse is "phroureo" which means "to guard like a military guard".

If you are a person who is struggling with anger issues or being short-tempered, I pray that the Grace of our Lord Jesus opens your eyes of understanding to the Truth of His Word. If you are a person who have gone through an abuse, I understand that it must have been hard for you. But please remember, you need not have to remain bitter towards that person who had wronged you, but rather let go, and let the Lord deal with that person, because your life is far more precious to be wasted remaining in bitterness and anger. The Lord says:

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee" - Isaiah 49:15-17

Our lives are worth so much that while we were yet in sin, God sent His only Begotten Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 5:8). That is how much you and I are valued by the Lord. Therefore, rather than wasting our lives being angry and bitter, let us allow the shalom (שלום) of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ rule in our hearts, and reign in our lives, where we walk as a living testimony where people see Jesus in us and end up worshiping the Lord.