John 16:33
So my fiancé and I are going through some trials in our own lives as we are preparing for marriage.
And there’s a real temptation to think “just after this season, we’ll be smooth coasting.”
As a matter fact, I feel like it’s tempting to think that for many points in our lives. “Oh yah, after this we’ll be smooth coasting. After this, we’ll be set for life. Or after this, we’ll be okay.
Then I had this amazing revelation.
We will never ever experience lasting circumstantial peace on this side of eternity. And we will never come to the place of “having arrived” in this life.
I remembered how Peter described this life. He said that we should “conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your sojourning” (1 Peter 1:17). He’s describing our time here on earth is just a place we’re passing by. We will never experience lasting peace in this life. Our only peace is in kingdom of God with Jesus when we pass.
Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble..” (Jn 16:33). We will always experience stress, trouble, trials, difficulties, for the rest of our lives.
Yet with that, the goal of the American dream is to lie to us to tell us that peace in this life is attainable, so buy, work, and strive until you get that. and stomp on others until you get there!
But the reality that the Bible sees is that “you are sojourners, you don’t belong here, don’t store up treasure here, don’t be surprised when trials and turmoil come, you are enemies here, live for eternal purposes, and sow all you can into other people so that they may experience eternality.”
That is the message of the kingdom of God.
There is no peace in this life–get over it. May we never live with the illusion that we’re living on earth to stay in this reality. May God grant us eternal perspectives about our lives.
