Getting to a place of peace takes time and patience.  St. Paul talks about the trial of our faith being much more precious than gold and we see in scripture numerous people going through much difficulty and adversity in their quest for peace.  Jacob, for instance, has many trying episodes in his life before his named is changed to Israel and his nature changed to meekness, acceptance, and peace.  Joseph, for example, gets sold into slavery, spends time in a harsh prison for a crime he did not commit before he is reconciled to his brothers and father.  Abraham, the father of our faith, goes through testing and trial all of his life in his quest for peace.  St. Paul, separated unto the gospel of Jesus Christ, experiences hardships and trials all the way through his Christian life.  So getting to a place of peace takes time and patience and unless we are willing to fight the good fight of faith we will not achieve our goal.

            For many of us the usual response to being born again is that Jesus will shield us from trial and tribulation.  We are so happy in our new found faith that the thought of testing and trial seems remote at best.  Yet if we pursue the Christian path and seek the kingdom of God, like Abraham, Joseph, and Jacob, like so many in scripture, we will experience persecution and trial.  We do not need to look for it, it will seek us out and the real journey of faith will begin.  If, as a born again Christian, we make scripture a number one priority, not only will we wrestle with the world, we will wrestle with living out the gospel of Jesus Christ and being true to God.  What begins with joy and peace becomes a very difficult and long lasting struggle.  Crucifying the flesh, learning forgiveness, no longer judging others, developing and cooperating with the Holy Spirit, getting rid of evil spirits only takes place as we engage with scripture and the world and begin to put the teaching of Christ into practice.  So as St. Peter states “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings (1Pt4:12-13a).  Peter is well aware what lies ahead for the Christian who needs to work out his salvation and lives in a fallen world.  For the young Christian there remains much to experience and much to learn.  But if we make a complete surrender to God, if when we fall we rise and continue our quest for love, truth, and peace, we will meet God many times along the way, we will be a good witness of Jesus Christ and love, joy, and peace will be our reward. 

            Be faithful to God, be faithful to scripture, and be faithful to yourself and the result will be that finding peace is worth more than anything we experience in times of struggle.  Run the race and if you win, you will receive an incorruptible crown and everlasting life.

amen