God can give us inner peace (John 14:27) despite the storms around us, for He is a refuge and a rock (Isaiah 26:3–4). He gives a divine peace that guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6–7). This peace comes from the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1–2). Christ’s peace brings clarity and expels confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He is a strong God who can deal with our enemies, too (Romans 16:20). The God of peace sanctifies and empowers you to live in peace and do good (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; Hebrews 13:20–21).
Therefore, keep following the things that are good and right before God, despite those people who do evil (Psalm 38:20) or seek war (Psalm 120:6–7). Overcome evil by doing good (Romans 12:21). Stick to God’s word without compromise and ‘great peace’ will be your portion (Psalm 119:165). The meek who walk uprightly will live in peace: ‘for there is a happy end for the man of peace’ (Ps 37:11, 37 AMP). Be a man or woman of peace, and seek peace.
Plans for Peace
The attitude of peace comes from the God of peace who has plans of peace! There is a powerful promise in the Bible that echoed throughout history: that God has good plans for His people, plans of peace and welfare, plans to fulfil His good word to His people.
‘For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace [shalom] and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.’ Jeremiah 29:11 AMP
The God of peace has good plans for us and has therefore prepared ‘good works’ for us in which we should walk (Ephesians 2:10). We should let our light of good works shine in a world of sin and darkness so that God can be glorified and people can be blessed (see Matthew 5:13–16). The God of peace is also the God of hope who gives us joy, peace and hope (Romans 15:13). He gives peace in all circumstances (2 Thessalonians 3:16). The peacemakers will bring peace, hope and comfort to the world around them.
Hope and Comfort
The historical context of Jeremiah’s beautiful words of hope and comfort came at a time when Israel was in a foreign land, exiled for their sin and refusal to repent and turn to God. The God of peace is also a God of justice, and His people did wrong without setting it right; therefore, there were consequences for their actions. Yet still, the God of peace and justice is also the God of mercy and restoration. The exile was only temporary (70 years) and God would bring them back to where He wanted them to be and where they belonged: in their land where God would prosper them and make them dwell in safety. God is a good God despite temporary setbacks, troubles or human failures. He remains faithful, even if we are not (2 Timothy 3:13). God is light and there is not darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). His word brings light (2 Pet 1:19–21; Psalm 36:9; 119:130). Christ’s life is light and enlightens the world (John 1:4–5, 9). He wants to give hope and comfort! God has plans to prosper us and give us hope and a future, no matter what you might be facing at this present time. God has a way into the future He has prepared for you (Isaiah 43). Trust Him and trust His word.
But Jeremiah didn’t have it easy. He, too, had to trust God and His word. Often, he would get rejected and ridiculed for speaking the words of God (e.g., Jeremiah 26), but God was faithfully with him to save him from evil people who sought him harm. God had promised that to him from the outset (Jeremiah 1:17–19). And then there was the ‘showdown’ with a false prophet who gave false assurance to God’s people (see Jeremiah 28). He gave false comfort by false prophecy. There are those who promise ‘peace, peace,’ but there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14), because theirs is a superficial healing, a fake comfort and a false hope. God’s true hope is found in the true words of His true prophets! God’s peace is found in God’s ways (Jeremiah 6:16; see Matthew 11:28–30). Don’t allow the false ministers to mislead you with false words. It leads only to disappointments. Only God’s word can be trusted. Only God’s word will bring about God’s will—and His peace.
Despite the false prophets and fake leaders, just as God was faithful to His true prophet, in the same way God was faithful to His people. At the right time He would fulfil His word to them and make the exiles return to their homeland (Jeremiah 29:10). God had promised Jeremiah early on that He was watching over His word to fulfil it (Jeremiah 1:12). Jeremiah trusted God and His word—and God’s word never fails. Keep trusting God and His word, it’s worth it. Remember, we don’t live by bread (natural sustenance) alone, but by the very words God speaks to us (spiritual nourishment). These words Jesus quoted in the midst of temptation and spiritual struggle (Matthew 4:4), words from a time Israel wasn’t having it easy (Deuteronomy 8:3), yet God was working out His good plans for His people. He was also doing a work in them, something that is necessary in order to reach the Promised Land. Trust Him. Trust the process. He is the God of peace. But if you feel that your life is a life of broken dreams, why not turn to God’s plans for you? They are plans of peace—to give you a future and a hope.
Shalom
Before the prophet uttered the words of God’s promises of a better future and a steadfast hope in the midst of their exile (Jeremiah 29:11), He reassured them that He would visit them and perform His ‘good word’ toward them (v 10). We are not alone in our struggles and difficulties—God comes to us! There was a set time for God to fulfil His promise—and God is always faithful, and always on time. There’s nothing that can stop His purpose once the time is right (Isaiah 14:27; 60:22). The ‘plans’ (NASB) or ‘thoughts’ (NKJV) God has over His people are ‘plans for welfare’ (NASB) and ‘thoughts of peace’ (NKJV), not for calamity or evil. The God of peace has ‘thoughts and plans for welfare and peace’ (AMP) for His people. His plans are shalom!
The Hebrew Word shalom is a rich word: peace, welfare, health, wholeness, harmony, tranquillity, healing, provision, prosperity. God wants His people to be well, dwelling in a land flowing with milk and honey—blessing, beauty and abundance. God had promised that special land to Israel’s patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and He would fulfil His promise to His people to keep them in safety and peace there in their land (cf., Isaiah 32:17–18). Even when the children of Israel had been enslaved in Egypt, God saw their suffering, had compassion on them and remembered His covenant-word of promise to His people (Exodus 2:23–25). God is faithful. God would lead His people out of bondage as the God of war on Israel’s oppressors and lead them into the Promised Land as the God of peace to His people. He is ever faithful to His word. In the time of Jeremiah, God would again lead His people out of bondage (the exile) and restore them to the Land of Promise.
God would fulfil His ‘good word’ to them (Jeremiah 29:10) because He has good ‘plans for peace’ for His people (v 11). God’s good word fulfils God’s good plans. This principle of God restoring His people is valid for us, too, for the same God of peace has plans of peace also for us today. He is a loving Father who desires our wellbeing. We can trust the God who liberated His people out of Egyptian bondage and Babylonian exile in history past. All things were written for our instruction, comfort and encouragement, and for us to have hope in the God of hope (Romans 15:4, 13).
Wholeheartedness
Whenever God’s word is coming into fulfilment, we must respond wholeheartedly. God had promised to bring about His good word with His good plans (Jeremiah 29:10–11) and His people were to call on Him and pray to Him; He will hear their prayers and respond (v 12). When God’s people seek Him, He will be found—if it is done wholeheartedly (v 13). It’s not that God is playing ‘hide-and-seek,’ but He wants to know if His people are serious. The same applies to us today: we are to love God with all of our heart, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37–38), and in the same way we are to seek Him with all of our heart, soul and strength! Seek the Lord while He might be found; seek His face when He is near (Isaiah 55:6). When it is time to seek His face, seek Him—and seek Him wholeheartedly (Psalm 27:8; Deuteronomy 4:29).
As we seek Him and find Him, He will release us from whatever captivity we might be in and restore us to where we belong (Jeremiah 29:14). Whatever might have been lost, God is a faithful God of restoration. He is the God of peace who has plans of peace, so that we can be sons of peace.
Sons of peace
Jesus instructed His disciples on their mission to seek a ‘son of peace,’ one who would humbly welcome them, be hospitable and be receptible for the message of the Kingdom (Matthew 10:11–13). The humble are the sons of peace who will receive peace and salvation. Judgment on those who seek war is in God’s hands; we are to seek and promote peace and overcome evil by doing good. Such a peaceful attitude is one of forgiveness when wronged and committing everything into God’s hands to set it right—we overcome evil by doing good and thus won’t be overcome by evil (Romans 12:14–21). God wants us to live in peace, seek peace and carry a heart of peace. We are to live in peace with others as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). Some people seek war; we must seek peace (Psalm 120:7). There are those who speak of peace but devise evil in their hearts (Psalm 28:3)—don’t be like them. Do good, never evil (see 1 Peter 2:21–25; 3:8–17; 5:10–11). Those who do good are of God (3 John 11). The temptation to become evil like those who do us evil is indeed a great one, but God’s way of a heart for peace and an attitude of love and forgiveness is the way to remain good in an evil world. As we walk in a blameless and upright way, our future will be peace (Psalm 37:37). Indeed, the meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in abundance of peace (v 11). God can even make our enemies to be at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7).
Be a son or daughter of peace as sons and daughters of the God of peace. Seek other sons and daughters of peace and promote peace. Peace is a light on the darkness—therefore shine as a peacemaker! Peace will prevail because the God of peace will prevail! His plans of peace will stand and prevail.
God has plans for peace (Jeremiah 29:11) and He wants to bless you with peace (Psalm 29:11).
Shalom
thank,s Gordon