Godly Peace

Godly Peace
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 NIV

When I think of peace, I oftentimes think of David's 23rd Psalm. I imagine being lead to safe green pastures. I can almost taste the cool refreshing waters that will restore me. This is the place where goodness and mercy will be my constant companions. And all at once I am shaken from said peace to the sound of nails and hammers, the pinch of a thorny crown and the weight of the Lord's cross. Where is the peace that God promised?

It "pleased" God to bring us peace by the blood of Christ. Or in other words, this was the necessity that destroyed enmity between God and mankind. I wonder... is this the flaw Christians have in understanding peace, if not Christianity as a whole? If you are a believer for more than a few moments, you will quickly come to the realization that there has to be more to "peace" than green pastures, still waters and the absence of hostility and danger. Maybe godly peace is not the absence of chaos, pain or danger. Maybe, godly peace is knowing that your relationship with God is secure. No one and nothing can unhinge you from God, and I think that creates a kind of "well-being" within our souls that cannot be moved by any circumstance, even the threat of harm or death.

I think we foolishly assume that godly peace equals security while on planet Earth. Maybe God intends for us to traverse the difficult paths so that we can lead others into something worth more than mere safety; to lead others to Christ, to grace, to mercy, to God our Father and into service, in spite of the circumstances.