Peace, what is it? Peace is an unexplainable inner quietness that leaves the soul and mind at perfect rest even in the midst of an intense struggle.
The ability to find and maintain this sense of inner stillness is a lost art in the fast paced world that is enamored by neon lights and four way multi-tasking.
What are the root causes for not experiencing peace? The opposite of inner peace is anxiety or worry.
These are caused by three types of fear - the fear of excess pain, the fear of being out of control and the fear getting caught.
Excess pain is a relative term because each person has different pain thresholds.
Being afraid of pain can refer to physical or emotional pain or both.
In this imperfect world in which we live, there is much emotional and physical pain.
This results in an overdose of anxiety in our lives and accordingly a lack of inner stillness or peace.
The second type of fear is the insecurity of not being in control.
We human beings are prone to worry about things that are outside our bounds of control.
We think we know best and want to stick our noses in everybody else's business.
In this way our hearts become overburdened by the cares of the world and we are unable to know the perfect rest in the core of our being.
The third type of fear is the fear of being caught.
Our souls are compromised by guilt from doing something wrong.
How do I find peace? The first step to experiencing a deep inner peace is to address the various fears that plague our minds and souls.
This means to not engage in practices that cause us to feel shame or guilt.
It also means quenching the tendency to worry about things we cannot control.
Second, to experience peace you must take some time away from the hubbub of life.
This means turn off the stereo and TV and make time to be still and silent.
Third, meditate on life.
Allow yourself to see the big picture and how each part of your life fits into the grand scheme of things.
Try to see things as they are.
Currently, I help coach a Little League baseball team.
I am amazed by how much importance coaches, parents and players place on the outcome of a game.
It is as if the world will stop spinning if their team loses the game.
They fret over something that has little or no meaning.
The trick is to assign each activity its proper value.
When the parents see its more about fun then winning then they will less uptight about the result.
Fourth, cultivate a relationship with the Living God who created the heavens and the earth.
Pray to him with faith in your heart and he promises to give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Peace is an unexplainable inner quietness that leaves the soul and mind at perfect rest even in the midst of an intense struggle.
Are you experiencing this kind of peace today?