"Searching for Peace" by Drew Kingery
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8–9).
As I write this, we are in the grips of a pandemic, a deeply partisan political season, times we have not seen in close to 100 years. It’s hard to find a quiet moment, much less a peaceful one. So where and how do we find peace?
Is it a feel-good book? Putting your earbuds in and listening to music? Maybe finding a quiet spot to meditate? We’ve all tried various ways this year to find a little bit of peace. Peace is hard to find! I find it when I spend an afternoon playing golf. My peace is in the four hours of no distractions, no cell phone, no news, no pandemic.
Something else that gives me peace within is the benediction that Jason says at the end of the service.
“May the one who seeks you find you when you fall.
May the one who loves you take delight in your living,
And may the one who sends you, send you now with joy.
For in your gladness and in your grieving, in your brokenness and in your healing, in your faithfulness and in your leaving, the one who made you and redeemed you is the one who keeps you still.”
We are encouraged by Paul in his letter to the Philippians to think about whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. Paul tells us if anything is good or praiseworthy, we should think of those things. When we do, the God of Peace will be with us.
Our benediction does that for me. I find peace in hearing these familiar words each week.
May the peace of Christ be with you . . .