2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

New American Standard Version

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          My prayer for you is that our God, who is the source of all peace, grant that peace to you at all times and in all circumstances.  May you be aware of His presence with you every moment of your lives.  I close this letter with my own unmistakable handwriting so that you may know without any doubt that this letter comes from Paul, your pastor and your friend. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ cover you all.

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          The 1970’s was an era that “Peace” was a buzz word.  The hippies and others talked about peace and chased after it through drugs, communes, and defying every form of authority.  The “Peace Symbol” was displayed on clothing and about every other place imaginable.  People held up two fingers in greeting one another that was supposed to symbolize peace in some way.  All of this was ironic because the 1970’s was one of the most turbulent eras in American history.

          The hippies and “flower children” and others all sought after peace but they didn’t find it.  That’s because peace cannot be found by changing your circumstances, environment, or culture.  Genuine peace must come from within and it comes from only one source.  True peace supersedes a person’s circumstances or situation.  It is rooted in a deep confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

          When Paul closed his letter to the Thessalonians by praying peace for them, he was not praying for an absence of problems or an easier life for those believers.  Paul had experienced and would continue to experience the most severe of hardships and yet the peace of Christ reigned in his heart.  His inner and unquenchable peace came from the undeniable sense of God’s presence in his life. 

          Paul knew God’s peace when things were easy and when they were difficult.  He experienced God’s peace and presence when the sun was shining warmly upon him and when he was in the midst of the fiercest storm.  God’s peace was not from the outside in – it was from the inside out.  God’s peace didn’t require that the Lord calm every storm but that He would give him calm even in the storm.  A wonderful song by Scott Krippayne said it so well:

“All who sail the sea of faith find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark and gentle winds grow strong.
Suddenly fear is like white water pounding on the soul,
still we sail on knowing that our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm with a whispered “Peace be still.”
He can settle any sea but it doesn't mean He will.
Sometimes He holds us close and lets the wind and waves go wild.
Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.”

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Ask the Lord to give you His peace that is deeper and stronger than any of your circumstances.  Thank Him for His presence in your life that never changes.  Pray that you will learn more and more what it means to rest in His peace even when the storms come.

END