What do you possess? Lands, estates, wealth? What do you possess? An education that can earn you a living. All sorts of things. Something that towers above them – I have reconciliation with my God. I may pray to him, call upon him, receive his blessing from on high, walk with him, live with him forever. I could never merit this, it is because Christ died for my sins and drew me to himself, I am reconciled with God. In all the troubles of life as they come there is something which soars above them all – I have reconciliation with God. I know him and walk with him and he knows everything.
What is the peace of Christ? I have a certain outcome. I know how everything is going to turn out well because ‘all things work together for good to them that love God.’ What does that mean? What is the good that I receive from God? Well, it is my spiritual and eternal good. No matter what takes place, no matter what happens, God will see to it that my spiritual and eternal good is uninjured and preserved and held in readiness for me. The greatest thing my spiritual and eternal good is safe and guarded and kept in the hands of my Saviour.
Things go wrong in life, troubles come, griefs and disappointments, and you cannot chase them away. You have got to live through them, react to them, respond to them, pray for help, do your best. You cannot just airbrush them out of life. But on the other hand, they must not overwhelm us and take our peace. So the command comes with the blessing – ‘Let not your heart be troubled.’ Remember the promises, remember your blessedness. If Satan comes and tempts you and tells you, you cannot possibly be saved and robs you of your assurance and casts you into doubt – do not let it happen. Pray to God for help. Comfort yourself with the promises of God. Remember your testimony. ‘Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’