“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – Jesus in John 14:27, NIV

God will never let you go. What a comfort it is to know that the God of the Universe, the creator of all things that exist wants to offer us eternal peace. He loves us and wants us to feel whole and complete in Him. We can rest in peace knowing that if we follow Him and choose His ways Psalm 34:14 (NIV) says: “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” This is an active ongoing way of being.

Peace is built on trust

Is peace something we create or is it something God provides if we are willing to trust Him and follow? Psalm 34 suggests it starts with us being willing to turn from evil. If we want peace, turning from evil is only the beginning, we have to become active. Peace always begins with us, when we realise that we actually can do what God calls us to do.

We can do things that make this world a better place, whether at home, in the neighbourhood, our island or in the world. When we start with ourselves, we may seek that peace that God promises and we can pursue it. In that respect peace is an “inside job”.

However, having said this, isn’t it true that our peace is often challenged by outside forces, things we cannot control? What about the storms of life, the accidents, and the attacks? And what about the other people, the ones on the other side of the fence? The poet Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) said: “The gentlest man cannot live in peace if it does not please his wicked neighbour.”

Peace involves many sides

At the same time we know Christ’s parable about the log in our own eye, and the splinter in the eye of our neighbour (Matthew 7:3-5). That parable suggests that we might not be as gentle as we might think. We might be part of the problem. We might just not be able to make or keep peace because of our own shortcomings, flaws and bias. Not only the “wicked” neighbour needs forgiveness and grace, we are in need of forgiveness ourselves.

Christ promised this forgiveness when he talked about God’s grace for all who trust God. Grace is the centre of the gospel. There is God’s promise of grace and peace in every storm even when we don’t see it yet. Ever get some news that rattles your nervous system and completely disregulates you, so that you cannot even begin to process it because you are not prepared, not expecting it? That is the storm. Our initial reaction is often fear, shock, anxiety.

When we lack peace we are at a hard place

At times we can all find ourselves like a fish out of water, or riding out the storm of life, wondering where God is in all of this uncertainty and life-altering situations we may find ourselves dealing with. There are circumstances that are just beyond our control, and it can be hard to accept those. At the same time it is part of us being fully human. We have to realise that we often are not in control, we don’t know how to feel or respond even.

No matter who we are, where we’ve been, some things challenge our ability to cope and respond. What is it that we really need in those times? What do others around us need in those times? How can we maybe help them, especially children when they’re looking for guidance, for a compass?

Prayer can give peace

Well, let’s be really honest, sometimes we don’t have the answer, we struggle. For me that is a time for prayer. It is interesting how most people who go through the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, even if they are unsure about their spirituality, how and where they stand with God, find strength in prayer, particular in the Serenity Prayer. Some of them told me they more or less unceasingly are praying, and it is how they find solace, comfort, and help.

The Serenity Prayer teaches them to accept what they cannot control and let God take care of it. Not that they have found all the answers about God and the world, or are even sure about their faith, but they surrender to this higher power, trusting that peace is possible.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Remember those superheroes from childhood?

God’s supernatural powers are the key to hope. Have you noticed? Superpowers and superheroes are in again. There are new movies that bring those childhood heroes back to life. Remember how much fun it was to imagine your favourite superhero and how you would use those superpowers?

I recall a visit to New York with our youngest son Alex, when he was about 12. We went to the Broadway musical Spiderman, back then with our brilliant local actress Rebecca Faulkenberry starring as Mary Jane Watson. We sat on a side balcony in the theatre, and in the middle of the show, without us noticing where he came from, suddenly Spiderman stood next to Alex, greeted him, took hold of a rope from the ceiling and swung away across the theatre. Wow, what a moment. It was so exciting.

We all know that those superheroes are fiction and fantasy. Usually the heroes try to use their powers to do good, to rescue people, protect them and limit the evil villain, though sometimes their powers are too strong and cause a lot of damage, and in turn lead to negative feedback.

Grace and forgiveness nurture peace

With God’s grace it is different. The powers might not look so supernatural as with the movie heroes, and often we might even think it was us who got it done, or luck, or coincidence. At times we even try to control God, even with prayer, telling him what he should do, instead of just stating our situation and asking for his help and grace, trusting that he has infinite, endless love and power over Heaven and Earth. God is caring, and at the same time God respects us and our freedom and decisions. He gently tries to direct us with His Word and lets us experience his grace.

We misunderstand his care and gentleness though, and doubt. To doubt and think negatively is one of our common human traits. Trusting is thus difficult for many of us, especially if we may have had unpleasant experiences with people and situations around us. If we never learnt to trust others, especially in our early development, it can be challenging to trust others, so how or why would we learn to trust God?

Learn to trust in God and pray again

If in doubt, pray it out. God promises peace to us. So let us trust Him, trust that the Holy Spirit is doing it’s work without our works. It requires a faith like a child has, that God can do. Just let God’s promise of peace into your heart.

Rock your faith to the sky through relying on God’s strength and possibilities, and then live one day at a time, just the best you possibly can. More is not expected. Let God know in prayer what the problem is, think what you can do and leave the rest.

When I was in high school I regularly prayed before tests. I also studied, but my confidence came from prayer. I thought if something is important to me I can give it up to God, often in prayer. I lived by that and gave up worrying. What I found was peace. I did my best and left the rest to God.

Being human we need help

I have to remind myself sometimes of that. I catch myself doubting, worrying. Like you I am just human, need a place to dwell, as pastors folks and an international couple we have moved a lot. We need a new place to live and now know how challenging it can be to find something.

There are many things that can worry us, and that is human, to fret for a moment, but then I remind myself of the awesome God I have, who knows all of my needs and my heart’s desires and He provides in ways I never thought of. I think of Colossians 3:15 (NIV): “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” That calms my nervous fear.

• Karsten Decker is a German theologian with a double degree equivalent to an MTheol and MDiv. He was the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Bermuda from 2010 to 2017, and after returning from Germany is now the temporary pulpit supply at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smith’s