Peace
The Fruit of The Spirit - Peace
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control.
The true challenge for the Kedoshim, the set-apart ones, is this: can we maintain love, joy, and peace in the midst of trials and differences? When iron sharpens iron, can we still keep love and joy in our hearts? Can we also hold onto Shalom in our hearts?
Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness without which no one shall see the Master. See to it that no one falls short of the favor of Elohim, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, by which many become defiled
Can you say you have peace in your heart, or are you struggling with conflict? Conflict can take many forms.
Before addressing this, we need to examine what steals our peace of mind on a daily basis—namely, worry. The opposite of peace is worry. Worry is one of the distressing burdens that Satan imposes on humanity each day. It serves as a prominent sign that he is active in the world, and it reflects the consequences of choosing the god of evil and sin over the Elohim of righteousness.
What is worry?
The New Testament term for worry is merimna. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, “merimna” is connected to the word merizo, which means “to draw in different directions, to distract… a care, especially an anxious care.” In essence, to worry means to have a “divided mind.”
A synonym for worry is anxiety. Webster’s Dictionary defines “anxiety” as derived from the Latin word anxious, which is related to angere, meaning to strangle or cause distress. Thus, both worry and anxiety refer to a similar mental state characterized by uneasiness and concern that can be overwhelming and suffocating.
When individuals experience anxiety, they are often consumed by real, possible, or imagined concerns. As a result, they endure mental pain that drains their energy, limits their potential, and stifles their well-being.
Millions of people struggle with worry and anxiety in various ways—some constructive and some detrimental. Let’s turn to the words of our master.
Peace I leave with you – My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
This wonderful promise includes three key points
The text begins by explaining that Yeshua desires to offer us true peace, emphasizing that He is the source of this peace. It also highlights that the world can only provide a false sense of peace—not the genuine article. We will revisit the notion of the false peace that the world offers.
Additionally, it stresses that we each have a role in the process: we should not allow our hearts to be troubled or afraid.
Often, we mistakenly believe that a change in circumstances will bring us contentment. We think that better jobs, more money, longer vacations, and similar improvements will solve our problems. This mindset reflects the world’s approach to alleviating anxiety, but such solutions only provide temporary relief.
In contrast, Yeshua’s peace is not contingent upon our circumstances; rather, it is rooted in our relationship with Him. This means that it is possible to maintain a calm and peaceful spirit even in difficult times—when our world feels like it’s falling apart.
This is precisely what the disciples encountered when Yeshua was crucified. All their hopes, dreams, and expectations crumbled. They had anticipated that the long-awaited Messiah would free the Jewish nation from Roman control, crown Himself as the King Messiah, and usher in the Kingdom.
So when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Master, would You at this time restore the reign to Yisra’ĕl?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
They were waiting for Him to demonstrate His authority and power.
Think about it: they left their families and jobs, casting aside their nets to follow this wandering Rabbi from Nazareth. Eventually, He revealed to them that He would be delivered into the hands of the Chief Priests and Elders and crucified.
But the night before all this happened, Yeshua gave them comforting words: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid” (John 14:27). When circumstances were at their worst, He offered them the only thing they needed to endure—something that could never be destroyed or taken away.
There is no guarantee that everything will work out the way we want in life, but we can count on this: Yeshua did everything necessary to ensure that we could experience His unfailing peace in all circumstances.
Yeshua gives us inner peace. In ourselves, we lack the ability to achieve this, but through our relationship with Him, it can become a reality in our lives. Yeshua compared our connection with Him to a branch attached to a vine (John 15:5). When we surrendered our lives to Him, we entered into a covenant that offers peace the world cannot provide.
Why do we lose our peace?
Since Yeshua has provided us with everything we need, why do we continue to struggle with anxiety and turmoil? We often cry out to Yah in the midst of pain, confusion, and hardship.
What hinders us from experiencing the peace that Yeshua wants to give us?
Sin: If there is something in our lives that shouldn’t be there—whether it’s a habit, a relationship, an attitude, a possession, or a certain practice—we will never experience Yeshua’s peace until we address it. Sometimes we try to fix the situation but end up prolonging our misery. It is only when we confess and repent of our sins that we can fully walk in communion with Him. When our relationship with Him is restored, peace returns.
Focus: One way we can lose our peace is by projecting tomorrow’s cares into today. When our focus shifts from the Father to our concerns about the future—whether it be tomorrow, next week, or next month—our problems seem larger, and Yah seems smaller. Yeshua addressed this in the Sermon on the Mount. After instructing us to seek first the Kingdom and trust Him to supply all our needs, He posed a thought-provoking question: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27).
Doubt: We can also lose our peace if we start to question whether the Father will do what He has promised. One of our biggest areas of doubt often relates to finances. Yeshua encouraged us to trust Yah and not be anxious about our needs.
Because of this I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink, or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than the food and the body more than the clothing? Look at the birds of the heaven, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father does feed them. Are you not worth more than they? And which of you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his life’s span? So why do you worry about clothing? Note well the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and I say to you that even Shelomoh in all his esteem was not dressed like one of these. But if Elohim so clothes the grass of the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more you, O you of little belief? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these the nations seek for. And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these. But seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these shall be added to you.
At times, we may find ourselves asking, “Will He really come through for me?” In these moments, our minds can become flooded with countless “what ifs,” pushing us to seek our own solutions. Yet, rather than getting lost in our challenges, we must refocus our thoughts on the true nature of our Elohim and His unwavering support for us.
The one steadfast of mind, You guard in perfect peace, for he trusts in You.
When we focus on Yah’s faithfulness, our worries about the issues of this life become much easier to manage.
John 14:27 emphasizes our role in ensuring that our hearts are not troubled or afraid. This involves:
Avoiding sin
Staying focused
Not doubting
Abiding in Him, as He states, “If you abide in Me, I will abide in you” (John 15:4).
Thanks to the empowering presence of the Ruach, we can experience peace and joy even in the midst of difficult and challenging situations. This doesn’t mean we will always feel happy, but our confidence and trust in the Messiah allow us to rejoice in Him. We can free ourselves from anxiety by bringing all our concerns to Him in prayer with thanksgiving, as encouraged in Philippians 4:4-7. The outcome is Yah’s peace, which surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Yeshua Messiah (v. 7).
Our unity with Yeshua enables us to have peace with others. As His Spirit flows through us, He produces His fruits of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” These qualities serve as Yah’s building blocks for meaningful relationships. Even when we are mistreated, rejected, or reviled, we can still maintain peaceful hearts.
The Peace of Yah
What a wonderful description that is of this peace— it “passeth all understanding.” It is not only beyond a common understanding, but it passeth all understanding. Some have said it means that the ungodly man cannot understand it; that statement is true, but it is not a tithe of the whole meaning, for even he who enjoys it cannot understand it. It is deeper, it is broader, it is sweeter, it is more heavenly than the joyful saint himself can tell. He enjoys what he cannot understand. What a mercy that such a thing is possible, for otherwise our joys would be narrow indeed! Reason has limits far narrower than joy. Truly this peace is hid from the eyes of the ungodly and the unbelieving; it is far above, out of their sight.
The Worlds System of Peace
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
When “they” talk about peace, who exactly are “they”? How does the world define peace today? Materialism is at the forefront, with a constant push for the latest and greatest products. Money is evolving too—not just in terms of cash but also with the rise of digital cryptocurrencies that promise security, efficiency, and convenience. Who could possibly resist that? We are already being conditioned for a system that could be likened to the “beast system,” and this has been ongoing for quite some time.
Consider debit cards:
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Slide it
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Insert it
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Tap it
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What’s next?
Now, let’s look at the progression of mobile technology, specifically 5G:
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1G – the introduced beepers.
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2G – enabled voice calls and texting.
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3G – enabled video streaming, video chat, and a faster network.
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4G – enhanced video streaming, social networking, and mapping.
5G combines all of these previous technologies and operates 100 times faster. With smart devices, all conversations are recorded, and images are linked with voice recognition to create your digital identity. 5G was necessary for “them” to support the vast amounts of data being transferred.
Devices: Smart devices are paving the way for a new generation of artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, robotics, and much more.
Clothing: Today’s fabrics in clothing are often genetically modified and possess laboratory-made properties. These innovations have led to lightweight materials and advanced wicking fabrics designed to keep you cool, all while keeping environmental sustainability in mind. For example, major chains like Wal-Mart offer clothing made not only with cotton but also with ‘Better Cotton,’ which is a blend of cotton with spandex or polyester.
Food: The food industry today mirrors the clothing industry with the prevalence of genetically modified foods and ingredients. Although food labels have started to reflect this in recent years, these modified ingredients have been part of our food sources for quite some time. There are growing health concerns related to these practices, as evidenced by rising rates of diseases and autoimmune conditions, particularly in the U.S. Yet, many believe that incorporating bio-engineered ingredients into our food will ultimately lead to cost savings.
Passivity: Society often advises us to simply enjoy life and make the most of our time here. We are encouraged not to be negative or stir up trouble, and to just go with the flow. However, any attempts to critically engage with issues—whether religious or otherwise—often face backlash, with accusations of being judgmental or fanatical.
This is just a small sample of what is to come. All of these efforts are aimed at promoting good, beneficial, and self-sustaining practices for the greater good and a greener planet. They focus on fighting global warming and other related issues, all in the name of peace—the kind of peace that will ultimately be offered by the anti-messiah in the future. This false peace is designed to condition us for the beast system and will lead to a day of destruction. “For when they say ‘Peace & Safety’ then sudden destruction cometh”.
YHWH desires for His people to be governed by the tranquility that comes from Him. Embracing this peace leads to true harmony and fulfillment in our lives
“Let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts”.
For He who wishes to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit, let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it. Because the eyes of YHWH are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of YHWH is against those who do evil.”
Keeping the Peace of Yah
Here are some practical methods to maintain your peace of mind.
Forgive others and offer them forgiveness. Avoid harboring bitterness and resentment, and strive to navigate through life without unresolved conflicts. The person you hold unforgiveness towards in your past may never know whether you have forgiven them or not. The point being made is that like a ball and chain you drag the unforgiven offense with you wherever you go in life.
Remember, you can’t control everything. Let go and allow Yah to lead and guide you.
As stated in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.”
Be persistent in prayer, as advised in 1 Thessalonians.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the desire of Elohim in Messiah Yeshua for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, prove them all. Hold fast what is good. Keep back from every form of wickedness. And the Elohim of peace Himself set you completely apart, and your entire spirit, and being, and body - be preserved blameless at the coming of our Master Yeshua Messiah!
Block Out Negativity – This is somewhat of a misnomer. We need to differentiate between what constitutes bad news or negativity. We are here for one another to share burdens, to weep together, and to rejoice together. While we can ignore the negative news the world presents, even seemingly innocent or encouraging forms of entertainment can sometimes fill us with negativity and feed our spirits with things that do not belong to His kingdom. It would benefit us to avoid, when possible, those individuals who carry a spirit of complaining and murmuring, speaking idle words, and ultimately condemning themselves with their own words. Remember, life and death are in the power of the tongue.
For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise – think on these.
Seek First The Kingdom
For all these the nations seek for. And your heavenly Father knows that you need all these. But seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these shall be added to you. Do not, then, worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall have its own worries. Each day has enough evil of itself.
Make Him first priority. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
Summary
Peace is indeed achievable in our war-torn, anxiety-filled world. However, we must fully commit to Yah and continually seek this wonderful gift from Him. We need to ask with faith, and if you feel that your faith is lacking, you should ask for greater faith to trust in Him. Bind yourself to Him daily and be renewed by the renewing of your mind.
Psalm 37:11 ”But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of YHWH; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
Yeshua desires for us, and ultimately for the whole world, to share in His peace. This is a peace we must help create by combating our anxieties and concerns, remaining faithful to Yah’s ways, and regularly asking for the miraculous peace that Yeshua offers to all whom He loves.