By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis

What do you think of when you think about peace? Maybe you think about sitting on the beach, watching the waves tumble back and forth. Maybe you think about the cabin you used to go when you were a kid that was quiet and cool, smelling of pine and sawdust. Maybe it’s reading a book outside, listening to the birds chirp and feeling the breeze rustle the pages.

I think of the Shire.

Maybe I’m just a nerd, but the opening scenes of the first movie (or book) in the Lord of the Rings is what comes to mind when I think of peace.

(If you’d like to play the song “Concerning Hobbits” on the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack for this next part it will really improve the experience).

Rolling green hills border a winding path throughout Hobbiton. Each hill is spotted with a brightly colored, wooden door at its base. A sparkling, blue river twists through the valleys. It is occasionally interrupted by a small boat with a fisherman planted inside or a stone bridge carrying hobbit-sized ponies and carts across the water. Some Hobbits are walking around from place to place, others are resting in the grass or smoking a pipe. But, no one is in a hurry. Everything is just… peaceful.

No matter what you think of when you think of peace. It can never come close to the peace that God has intended for you. A peace that passes all understanding.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Peace, true peace, comes from only one source. That source is Jesus Christ. If you want to experience true peace, you need to come into the embrace of the One who gives it.

The peace that we feel on the beach, in a cabin, reading a book, or even in the Shire is such a small degree of the peace that God makes available for those who call upon Him.

Do you want true peace?

All you have to do is ask.

Parents: Ask your children what makes them feel at peace. Where do they feel the most relaxed? Tell them that if they ever feel anxious or afraid that God wants to give them a peace that is even greater.