According to 2 Thessalonians 3:16, how often and in how many areas of life does God desire to give you peace?
“at all times, and in every way”
Identify what each of the following passages teaches you about peace; watch for hints of a common denominator between many of them.
Isaiah 9:6,7 “Jesus is the Prince of Peace and will one day return to rule in eternal peace.”
Isaiah 26:3 “God bestows perfect peace on those who trust Him.”
Isaiah 32:17 “Peace is the fruit of righteousness.”
Isaiah 53:5 “Jesus bore the punishment that brought us peace.”
Isaiah 54:10 “God promises to never remove His covenant of peace.”
Isaiah 57:2 “The upright find peace in death.”
Isaiah 60:17 “He ‘will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler.’”
Did you see any hints of a common denominator tying several of these scriptures together? “Yes.” If so, what was it?
“All but the first and last could be referring to the peace in heaven after a believer’s death.”
Describe a time when you know you experienced the peace of God transcending your understanding.
“Maybe with my bike accident, waiting for the ambulance, dealing with the details with the police, etc.”
Read Luke 19:41-42. Why did Jesus show such extreme grief?
“He dearly loved Jerusalem, and he knew the tragic fate that would soon befall it. He also seemed to know the alternate future it could’ve had if it had not rejected Him.”
God did not insist on my forgiving for the sake of my perpetrator, but for the sake of peace in my life.
Read Isaiah 48:17-18. By what names is God called in verse 17?
“God
“Holy One
“Lord
“Redeemer”
According to Isaiah 48:18, what would happen if we paid attention to God‘s commands? Check any that apply.
“Our righteousness would be like the waves of the sea.
“We would have peace like a river.”
God’s Word doesn’t say we’ll have peace like a pond.
To have peace like a river is to have security and tranquility of heart and mind while meeting many bumps and unexpected turns on life’s journey through change.
Can you describe a time when you experienced peace accompanied by a busy schedule that would’ve caused chaos have you not been in God’s will? “Yes.” If so, briefly describe that time.
“I have a lot of days like that, but I remember one in particular where afterwards, I said I felt like I had been God’s pinball. in the midst of expected tasks for him, at least three other stops came up – one a phone call for help – a ride home from a bus stop, another a remembered need mentioned by an elderly relative.”
What are a few other ways you can give God the opportunity to keep a spring of fresh water welling up within you?
“Praying to, and taking the time to listen for an answer from Him, singing hymns, and praise songs to Him, and reading and even memorizing Scripture.”
Not righteous perfection. Righteous consistency.
Can you think of any ways righteousness itself brings peace?
“Maybe just knowing you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing rather than what you’re not supposed to be doing.”
Conclude today’s lesson by sharing any new insight into Benefit 4 you have received: To experience God’s peace…
“I like the point that it’s not a still lake, but a vibrant, often rapidly moving lake.”
Dearest Rachel –
I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that I’ve no idea what God’s peace is like – for all I know, the fact that I’ve been a Christian since childhood, makes it seem so normal a part of life that I’ve simply accept it as part of natural existence life oxygen in the air, so I don’t know what it’s like for it not to be there – but at the same time, I would assume that whatever peace He provides in heaven must be leagues beyond what’s available to us here on earth. I suspect you’re experiencing its full measure these days; I wish you could somehow describe what it’s like, so we might know what to look forward to.
Then again, I’m probably just wishing I could hear from you again about any subject; this just happens to be a nobler topic than most.
I don’t know if the study group you belonged to made a point of using newly-published books; since the latest copyright date I could find in this one was 2009, I can only assume so. The fact that you referenced an accident from 1998, and the preternatural calm you felt while waiting to be taken to the hospital, as opposed to your trip into surgery to remove the tumor on your brain in 2011, would suggest as much. Or maybe, you really weren’t as calm going into that as I recall – but that seems out of character, both for you and God.
I also don’t recall you using that expression of being “God’s pinball,” but I can’t imagine anyone not being able to relate to it. Life keeps you busy; there’s always something to tell you about, after all. I suppose it’s all a part of having ‘peace like a river’; some times, you still have to deal with the whitewater rapids, some times you overflow your banks, but the more and faster everything moves through you, the cleaner your soul gets. And maybe that’s the whole point.
Letters to Rachel 