“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16

Peace has been defined as “a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.”Through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, you and I are able to have peace with God:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1

Paul goes on to declare:

“…through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:2

We have peace with God and access into His presence—both found through the redeeming work of grace accomplished at the Cross (Ephesians 2:14–18).

But now the enemy of God is also our enemy, and he seeks to disrupt the peace we enjoy. While he cannot disturb our standing before God—since nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31–39)—the adversary does try to cause turmoil in our experience of that peace.

One of his primary strategies is to cause us to lose sight of our relationship with God by casting doubt on His Word and care for us—just as he did in the Garden of Eden with our first parents (Genesis 3:1–7).

When sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, three things followed: guilt, shame, and fear (Genesis 3:10). The devil has used these three as weapons against humanity ever since. They often manifest in our lives and bring serious distress to our spirit, soul, and body.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must remember:

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7

Satan is a thief. He desires to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal our joy, kill our peace, and destroy our effectiveness in bringing glory to Jesus. He often begins with worry, which escalates into anxiety, which can deepen into fear, and eventually grow into panic.

The Lord Jesus warned us about the dangers of worry in Matthew 6:25–34. Just like in Eden, worry and all that follows often begins with a heart that grows independent of God.

This is why the Lord Jesus reminds us:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33

To seek is to inquire, suggesting the importance of being in prayer before the Lord. We are to cast all our cares upon Him:

“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7

Anchor For Today:
You can cast all you anxiety and all your care upon the Lord Jesus for He cares for you. In exchange, He offers peace and rest for your troubled heart.