Isn’t it interesting how every time you watch a pageant movie and hear a contestant answer the question round with “World peace!” you automatically laugh a little? Have you ever thought about why that is? Why your automatic reaction to “World peace” is a chuckle? I used to think that people laughed at it because it is the stereotypical pageant answer. A, “Of course she said world peace, LOL” kind of chuckle. But I’m starting to think there’s so much more to it.
I’m starting to think that it isn’t the steroptypical-ness of the answer that makes it silly, but rather the sense of impossibility. I’m starting to think that automatic chuckle is more of a, “World peace? LOL, that’s a good one!” kind of reaction instead.
The other day I googled the definition of world peace – just cause I was curious. I found the answer rather funny:
World peace is an ideal of freedom, peace, and happiness among and within all nations and/or people. World peace is an idea of planetary non-violence by which nations willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that prevents warfare.
I think the thing that I found most humorous was the repetition of “world peace is an ideal of…”
All the time we hear “in the ideal world…” everyone would be free and everyone would be happy and there would be no violence. BUT (every ideal statement comes with a but) BUT reality is… our world is too broken.
That’s why this definition of world peace cracks me up. Even google doesn’t believe that world peace is a reality, or ever could be. Even google reacts with a “LOL that’s a good one” kind of chuckle. Even google classifies it as simply ideal.
And so often, I tend to react with that chuckle too.
It doesn’t take a magnifying glass for someone to see how broken this world we live in is. From mass shootings to a drug exchange ending in death, from war between nations leaving children without parents to wars within the household leaving children torn between parents, from people being persecuted for their religion to people feeling like they will never be accepted by a religion – it doesn’t take a magnifying glass to see. It doesn’t take a pessimist to believe that world peace is nothing more than ideal.
But what if world peace was attainable? (Just stick with me for a second, I’m not crazy I promise) What if we’ve just been looking at it all wrong? What if world peace had absolutely nothing to do with a world of governmental freedom or happiness or non-violence? What if, instead, it had everything to do with our hearts? What if in the midst of shootings and wars, divorce and discrimination, it was still possible to have world peace?
The book of Habakkuk opens with Habakkuk complaining to the Lord about this world. Habakkuk 1:2-4 –
“How long shall I cry for help and you not hear?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.”
Oh, how I can relate with Habakkuk! I feel like everyday I pray for this world, these nations – for no more mass shootings, for people to be free from addictions, for families to be restored and wars to be reconciled, for discrimination to end and love to take over. And yet, those things still continue…
“Hello, Lord! Can you hear me? Do you see this world? How broken it is? Are you going do something? Will you please do something??”
In Habakkuk 1:5 the Lord answered.
“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if I told you.”
Hold on, I want to read that one more time…
“Look among the nations and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe even if I told you.”
I can just picture the Lord looking down on me and smiling, “Kylee, do you remember who I am? I am God… I am God, and I got this! And if I tried to tell you what I was doing right now, you wouldn’t even believe it. It would be so great, you wouldn’t even be able to wrap your mind around it. So take a step back, and when you see how dark this world is, rest in the truth that my light is brighter. And if my light is brighter than this darkness – it must be dang bright! So step back in wonder, and be astounded in the victory you know is coming.”
The Lord’s response to Habakkuk makes me laugh because I know it wasn’t necessarily the response Habakkuk was hoping for… I picture Habakkuk on his knees begging for world peace and expecting the Lord to answer with a snap of His fingers that eliminates all violence and injustice! But the Lord doesn’t do that. The Lord doesn’t even say He will do that. Instead the Lord asks Habakkuk to change his definition of world peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Here’s the thing that gets me about this verse, it doesn’t say “And the peace of God, which eliminates violence and results in world freedom and happiness…”
I know it’s silly for me to point that out, but guys, it’s true! For so long I have categorized peace as this thing that will bring resolution to every conflict and that will result in no more violence and everyone being happy. No wonder it’s seemed unattainable!
This is not peace; Peace is so much greater! Peace goes beyond this worldly freedom and happiness and non-violence. Peace is knowing that in the midst of a world that seems so dark, the ONE TRUE GOD has this. That He’s doing a work that is so much greater than my understanding could ever be.
And that is the peace that I yearn to bring to this world! or at least one person’s world.
