10/19

2 Thessalonians 3:16

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Paul had asked the Thessalonian believers to be at peace with one another. His benediction at the end of the letter asked the Lord of peace Himself to give them peace. He may have been thinking of the title Prince of Peace from Isaiah 9:6. Or he may have heard from Peter that on the day before the crucifixion Jesus said He gave the disciples His peace (John 14:27). Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). When we yield to the Spirit we should be at peace within ourselves and with one another.

This peace was for "all times." Anyone can be at peace when things around them are peaceful. When things are in turmoil, it takes the peace of the Lord Himself to keep us serene. It is a trust in who God is and His power to see us through those times. It is knowing our destiny and the glory of it.

It is peace in "every way." That means not only an outward calmness, but an inner calm as well. Faith shines when situations are the darkest. I have experienced this peace and have heard from other believers of a supernatural peace that comes over a person when we look to God in the worst of trials. It is the Lord Himself sharing His peace with us.

Consider: We only find real peace in the Prince of Peace.