Peace in the World

Ellie was valedictorian of her class and editor of the yearbook. Her academic success had won a full four-year ride to an impressive women’s college. At orientation, the instructor gave the auditorium full of promising young freshmen a hefty dose of reality. He asked all those who were the valedictorian of their high school class to stand. Ellie’s eyes almost popped out of her head when a full one-third of her classmates rose to their feet with her. It was clear she was no longer the big fish in a small pond.

It’s tough venturing out into the cold, cruel world. It’s scary out there.

The world has little interest in building us up. It barrels along, pursuing its own agenda, and if you don’t embrace the prevailing thought or stay the heck out of the way, it will stomp you into the dust as it charges on.

We frequently arrive home from out there bruised and beaten, our positive goals dashed to bits and our good intentions misunderstood. The careless or even purposefully cruel words and actions of others methodically strip us of our dignity. Rejection is commonplace. Striving for approval from the world ends up leaving us feeling small and insignificant. Yup, this world can do a number on you.

This is especially a problem for me. I have this thing: I want everyone to like me. I strive for approval from everyone I encounter, from my closest associates to total strangers. My teaching partner Rene used to roll her eyes in frustration at my driving need. “Not everyone is going to like you,” she would firmly assure me.

Rene was right. If I am seeking the world’s approval, I’d better get used to disappointment. The world is not our friend, at least according to the Bible. For one thing, its values are opposite to God’s: “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen…” (1 Corinthians 1:28) In fact, the world doesn’t get God at all: “We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God…But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him…” (1 Corinthians 2:12, 14)

The very fact that God calls us friend makes us the enemy to the world. Jesus assured his disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because I chose you out of this world…the world hates you” (John 15:19).

But we live in the world. So how do we keep it from crushing us? The answer lies in where we are getting our significance. If we are looking to the world to somehow prove our value, we look in vain. A lasting sense of significance can only come from our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The world says claw your way to the top. God says rest in the unconditional love and victory that is already yours. “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give your rest,” Jesus urged. “You will find rest for your souls.”

When we determine our identity to be in Christ, we base our worth on what God thinks of us. A house on the market’s value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. God valued us so much that he paid the ultimate price: the blood of his Son. We don’t need to look any further than the God of the universe’s determination to win us for his own.

Even when we do somehow find significance and worth in this world, it is like a bite of cotton candy. We can savor it for a minute or two, but the sweet taste quickly dissolves into oblivion and we are driven back to a never-ending quest for more. It never satisfies for long.

On the other hand, Jesus offers a permanent solution for our love-hungry hearts: “My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled.” Understanding our worth to God is a giant step toward contentment in who we are.

“Cease striving and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” Isaiah 26:3