Peace and Quiet

There is a scene in one of our favorite movies in which parents are pleading with the rowdy occupants of the boy's bedroom for a little "peace and quiet". The guest in the room promises he'll be quiet, then the parent's son, with a sly grin, says "I'll be peace." It's a cute, comical scene in a very funny movie.

The truth of the matter is that we all plead for peace and quiet in one way or another. Some seek it in a situation, or a scene or a set of circumstances. Some find it in music or sound, some in the lack thereof.

True peace and quiet, however, is found in a person, the person of the Lord Jesus.

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Isaiah 32:17


"When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when He hideth his face, who then can behold Him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:" Job 34: 29

Many of us find turmoil and stress every time we read the news or listen to the television. The world and our country seems headed in directions different from our own values and desires and we feel distressed and powerless to facilitate any change in the direction. But if we know the Lord, we can affirm that He is our peace and that the work of His righteousness in us "shall be peace." By faith we can know that quietness and assurance which is the effect of righteousness. The Scriptures tell us that "God has not given us the spirit of fear," and we do well to refuse the temptation to grab onto the fear so offered us by every media venue.

Job tells us that when the Lord gives us quietness, who can make trouble? The God of the very universe is in control of our life, our city, our state, our country, our earth and our universe. It is His word which keeps this world from careening into outer space. It is His power that keeps the oxygen molecules together which we breathe and His wisdom which causes our bodies to take those breaths automatically without any thought or effort on our part. If we can trust Him for all this, we can trust Him for the rest. He is working to will and to do of His good pleasure in us and in our world and He will accomplish His purpose. He is completely trustworthy and we can have quietness and assurance in Him. He alone is worthy of our faith.