Life of Peace
A Word of Benefit
Life of Peace¹
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It is assumed that the Christian person’s heart should be filled with peace and calmness. He should not be disturbed inwardly or outwardly, but rather live in peace with himself, with people, and with God.
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Peace is one of the principal fruits of the Spirit. For the Apostle says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Gal 5:22).
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What is it that causes us to lose our peace? And how do we overcome?
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Sometimes we lose our peace and become distressed when things do not go according to our desires. We want to impose our will on people, on events, and even on God Himself. We must believe that not everything we ask for can be achieved, and perhaps its not being achieved is for our own good…
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Sometimes we lose our peace because we follow up on people’s mistakes, even if they are not directed toward us!! It gives us rest not to interfere in others’ affairs, and not to appoint ourselves as overseers over their actions.
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Perhaps our sense of injustice, and that we are in the position of the one wronged, causes us to lose our peace. With some endurance we can pass through injustice without losing our peace; we may consider it a crown, and feel that God judges on behalf of the oppressed. On the other hand, we must review ourselves—perhaps we are the ones at fault…
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We may lose our peace because of desires that were not fulfilled, or that were fulfilled at a level other than what we wanted. Happy is the person who rejoices in what he has, without being disturbed by thinking about what he lacks. Contentment is a path to peace.
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We may lose our peace because of sin, or because of our fear of its consequences, because “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” The remedy for this matter is repentance; through it, peace returns to the person.
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Sometimes we lose our peace because of the weakness of our nerves. Our problems need to be solved with our faith, our hearts, and our thoughts, not with our nerves—especially if our nerves are exhausted. For this increases disturbance and causes the person to lose his peace.
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We may lose our peace because of our attitude toward problems. Sometimes we become occupied with the problem—its depth, dimensions, and causes—and so we grow weary. Better than thinking about the problem is thinking about its solution, because if we reach the solution, we find rest.
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Sometimes we lose our peace because of haste. We want everything to be done quickly, and if a matter is delayed, we become disturbed. The matter needs patience, broad-mindedness, and long-suffering… We must give matters a time span in order to be accomplished, and not be anxious because of our love of haste…
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What causes us to lose our peace is magnifying problems. Fear, exhausted nerves, and expecting evil may magnify the problem, so we become weary, while perhaps the matter is much easier than what we greatly fear.
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Fear is a prominent cause of losing peace. The fearful person may think that the wicked can destroy him, and he may imagine dangers, troubles, and afflictions that do not exist, and thus becomes disturbed.
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Sometimes we lose our peace because of external circumstances; whenever they are against us, we become disturbed, whereas our peace should spring from within, and we should not leave ourselves at the mercy of circumstances and situations. The strong believing heart is like a rock—waves strike it but gain nothing from it… It is not right for a person to be easily provoked, or of the type that cares about every word and every action…
Sometimes a person loses his peace because of his thoughts: either he is quick to doubt, or full of suspicions, or he is helpless, or lacking wisdom such that he does not possess proper conduct. -
O my brother, do not lose your peace. Hope in the spiritual life gives joy. Therefore the Apostle says, “rejoicing in hope.” I feel that every problem has a solution, even if you do not know it, and that God will surely intervene at the appropriate time. I feel that what you have lost can be remedied, and that something better than it can be found.
¹ A Word of Benefit by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine, Fifth Year – Issue Four, 26-10-1974.
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