Where Does Peace Come From?

Peace, serenity or calmness is directly related to one's salvation and walk with God. It's true. A person can never be free from anxiety, and can never be content, without knowing Christ, the Prince of Peace. Apart from God, this person can expect to live with anxiety forever. Pills, psychoanalysis or alcohol will only offer a camouflage -- a temporary relief. St. Augustine was right when he said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee..." (p. 13)

Therefore, understanding the path to salvation, we can also take the same path for uncovering the root of our anxieties. It all begins with sin. Yep, I said it: SIN. The basic reason for anxiety in anyone's life is sin. The sin of not trusting God. The sin of unrepentance which "stores up wrath against ourselves for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgement will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done" (Rom. 2:5-6).

And what then, is our only solution for the problem of sin? "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven..." (Acts 2:38) This, then, is the requirement for knowing God and experiencing His peace--conviction and confession of sin. As we conquer sin we conquer anxiety. (pp. 14-15)

And if we do not repent for our sins, Matthew 11:28-30 tells us what will happen to us (in bold following), and urges us to DO unload: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Sara Ann DuBose, Conquering Anxiety (Atlanta, GA: Committee for Christian Education & Publications) 1989