Ours is a time when a longing for peace grows stronger by the day in each of our hearts. We watch heart-breaking video news reports of the suffering in Gaza and Ukraine. We get details about oppression by tribal lords in Africa and the Middle East, and brutal dictatorships in North Korea and China, and even physical abusive within homes and among family members. And on top of all that, we have not only the street warfare from criminals in our American cities, but also of the political war that rages between rival Democrats and Republicans. The reality of all these hostilities from war and oppression, from tyranny and brutality,from slander and corruption all continue. Jesus even told us to expect “wars and rumors of wars” until the end.
Our secular culture talks about peace as something that is attainable through legislation or education, through stronger armies or increased police presence, through judicial process or political campaigns … or even through ridiculous “new age” ideas like meditating under a tree and thinking happy thoughts! But none of these are realistic hopes because of the “desperately wicked” condition of human hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). Only the Holy Spirit can renew the soul, and that’s what He does through the miracle of regeneration. And that will only take place in a complete way when “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7) returns in glory. So what’s the most effective thing we can do? It’s to draw near to that Prince of Peace in prayer.