Focusing on the Lord and everlasting life can help us through all the challenges of mortality. Imperfect people share planet earth with other imperfect people. Ours is a fallen world marred by excessive debt, wars, natural disasters, disease, and death. Personal challenges come. Whatever may cause the worry, each of us yearns to find inner peace.
Prince of Peace
My message pertains to the only source of true and lasting peace, Jesus the Christ—our “Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 in the Bible) Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:4 in the Bible)
He can bring peace to those whose lives have been ravaged by war. Families disrupted by military duty bear memories of war. Wars of our present era are more sophisticated but are still as wrenching to families. Those who so suffer can turn to the Lord. His is the consoling message of “peace on earth and good will among men”.
(Luke 2: 14 in the Bible)
Peace Can Come
Peace can come to those who are not feeling well. Some bodies are wounded. Others ache spiritually because of missing loved ones or other emotional trauma. Peace can come to your soul as you build faith in the Prince of Peace. “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, … or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them.”
“I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.” (3 Nephi 17: 7 – 8 in the Book of Mormon)
Peace can come to one who suffers in sorrow. Whether sorrow stems from a mistake or a sin, all the Lord requires is real repentance. Scripture pleads with us to “flee [from] youthful lusts: … [and] call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2: 22 in the Bible)
Amazing Grace
Think of the change in John Newton, born in London in 1725. He repented from his sinful life as a slave trader to become an Anglican clergyman. With that mighty change of heart, John wrote words to the hymn:
“Amazing grace!” How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see. (Olney Hymns (1779)
Seek the Lord and He Will Help Us
“Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15: 7, 10 in the Bible)
Peace can come to those whose labors are heavy:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30 in the Bible)
Peace can come to those who mourn. The Lord said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5: 4 in the Bible) As we endure the passing of a loved one, we can be filled with the peace of the Lord through the whisperings of the Spirit. “Those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them.” (Doctrine & Covenants 42: 46) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27 in the Bible)
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25-26 in the Bible)
Millennial Messiah
We’ll sing all hail to the Prince of Peace, for He will come again. Then “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” (Isaiah 40: 5 in the Bible) As the millennial Messiah, He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16 in the Bible)
As we follow Jesus Christ, He will lead us and our families to live with Him and our Heavenly Father.
Some of the article was taken from the article by Russell M. Nelson “Jesus Christ – Prince of Peace” July, 2015 in the Liahona Magazine.