The Missing Peace (NIV)

The Missing peace It seems everyone wants to find peace. From beauty queens… ...to protesters “If I win, I hope to use my title to further world peace.” “Peace now! Peace now! Peace now!” Yet so few ever find it. “Why do I still feel lonely?” Often that missing peace leads to loneliness. Nobody wants to be lonely… “Oh, no! Not solitary confinement! ...Yet almost everyone experiences it. From executives… ...to shut-ins. “Sigh! It’s lonely at the top.” “Sigh! It’s just plain lonely everywhere!” People often deny their lack of peace and their loneliness by being around lots of people… “Hey, let’s do lunch.” “Great to see you!” “A call for me?” “I love ya, babe!” ...or lots of activity. “Busy! Busy! Busy!” “I’ve got so much work to do.” “Hurry! We’re late!” “Here! Wipe your nose.” But they find it only masks their true condition. “Still no peace!” “I’m still lonely!” Many who think marriage is the total answer… Later find themselves still asking… “Why am I still lonely?” And often many people disguise their loneliness with addictions… “Maybe if I eat enough of these, I’ll forget how lonely I am.” ...Or they encourage addiction in others with their need to feel needed. “I got you more twinkles, dear.” But the problem is, no matter how hard we try, we can’t find true peace through our own efforts. “Isn’t there a peace channel?” “Where can I find peace?” “In me you may have peace…” “Who said that?” “Jesus did-In the Bible.*” *John 16:33 “Jesus also said…” “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” (John 14:27) “Jesus? But how?” “You will never have the inner peace you are looking for until you have peace with God.” “Ouch!” “The reason you don’t have peace with God is because your sins stand in the way.” “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) “Is there any hope?” “Yes! The good news is God still loves you and wants to give you His peace. He sent His only son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sins with His death.” “You who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:13,14) “For God was pleased… to reconcile to Himself all things.. By making peace through [Jesus’] blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19,20) “After Jesus died for you, He rose from the grace to offer peace and eternal life to those who place their total trust in Him.” “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) “Dear Lord, I now realize that my loneliness is a symptom of my broken relationship with you. I now repent of the sins that stand between you and me, and I place my total trust in Jesus to pay for my sins.” “I found the missing peace in Jesus Christ! How about you?”