Peace

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 

Isaiah 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

There are some things which the world desperately desires to have but they are freely given to givers. One of these is peace both internal and external. But peace is not sold anywhere neither is it manipulated by any form of gimmick. It's a gift. 

Some gimmicks we are told to do is by avoiding things which cause us lose peace, like troublesome people. But you can run all you want from those who trouble you in one corner of the world, you will meet others in another part of the world who may be worse. I remember a discussion I was engaged in with some colleagues. One of them never wanted their children to marry a Ugandan for several reasons most of which were negative. This other colleague who was not Ugandan, a white man told them that even white people have issues of their own, so race is not the problem, sin is. 

You hear a lot of in-law issues when it comes to marriage. One may think they married the wrong person. They may opt to jump out of this marriage hoping for greener grass somewhere but they become heavily disappointed when they enter a new relationship. 

The solution is not to run, avoid or hide. The solution is Jesus. God through salvation has given us peace. This peace is not a result of having everything moving well on the outside, but having it on the inside as granted us by the Holy spirit and activated through giving. The real test to know whether people are walking in this peace comes when storms are raging but because one is a giver, they will stand at peace. Such storms include financial hardships, economic downturns, inflation, rise in fuel prices, the landlord increases your rent etc. If you stay at rest in the midst of that, then you are walking in God's peace. 

The opposite of peace is war or unrest. These may not be external wars but internal. These include disturbing thoughts of fear, doubt, unbelief, distress etc which war in our mind as a result of the present or in future events. This shouldn't be so to a believer.

One thing is true, the Peace of God is your potion because you are in Christ. One of the ways you can activate it is through your giving.