In his most recent book, Breaking Bread with the Dead, Alan Jacobs (Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Baylor University) describes an encounter that his students had with the writings of the Roman poet Horace. In one of his Epistles, Horace raises the question of how one might acquire “a tranquil mind”. He offers his own answer with a poem, part of which counsels,

Interrogate the writings of the wise

Asking them to tell you how you can

Get through your life in a peaceable tranquil way.

Will it be greed, that always feels poverty-stricken,

That harasses and torments you all your days?

Will it be hope and fear about trivial things,

In anxious alternation in your mind?

If you are like me, I long for that “peaceable tranquil way”. Instead, I often find that “my mind’s distracted and diffused” (apologies to Paul Simon). Forget all the international and national concerns surrounding pandemics, social unrest, and elections. The demands of daily life are enough to keep most of us in a state of agitation. How do I make sure my family is provided for financially? What schooling option do I choose for my kids? Do I need to get that strange noise the car is making checked out? Who’s cooking dinner tonight?

Yet, too often, our desire for peace leads us down wrong paths. Sometimes, we pursue false peace. This is what the world offers. Find your peace and security in career, money, looks, reputation. But these are all flimsy foundations that don’t last. Other times, we run after a half peace. This is the “I just want some peace and quiet” type of peace. It settles for the absence of conflict and hostility as if that is the best one should expect. While perhaps better than false peace, half peace doesn’t actually satisfy our longing.

Instead, the only peace that truly brings about that “tranquil way” is the peace offered to us by God. It is the Old Testament picture of shalom, of wholeness and integrity of life. It is life lived according to God’s will and ways. It is when we live as we were created to live and oriented to the purposes for which we were created. It is when everything works in sync.

And so, to know and experience peace within and with others, we must be rooted in this peace with God. And Paul tells us that “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This is no mere possible peace; it is an accomplished peace. It’s a peace that is evident when we come to the Lord’s Table. True table fellowship is only for those who are in a right relationship with one another. This peace, however, didn’t magically appear or happen. It was achieved by the deliberate purpose and foreknowledge of God. And it came at a cost. In Ephesians, we are told that Christ was making peace in such a way that we might be reconciled to God through the cross (2:15-16). And in Colossians, Paul tells us that Christ made peace by the blood of his cross (1:20). The price of our peace was paid by Christ on the cross.

But more than simply making peace at the cross, Jesus becomes our peace (Ephesians 2:14). So, peace is not ultimately found in a process or plan.  It’s found in a person. Horace asked the right question but never found the right answer. Would you know true peace, even in the midst of upheaval and uncertainty? Then you must know Jesus.