Recently, Our Father has been reminding me of the relationship between faith and hope. Specifically, I have been reflecting on faith and hope in the context of peace.  As I write this, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered its third day, and many around the world are hopeful that this ceasefire will last. Hopefully, the Palestinian people will be able to rebuild their lives, and the Israeli people will be able to live in peace again.  The last living hostages from the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, have been returned to their families, and the bodies of deceased hostages are being returned slowly. In return, Israel has released more than 1,950 Gazans who were detained in Israel.  These events fill me with hope and great gratitude for how God’s peace is present in our world. Peace is an important and valuable part of God’s character. God is the God of Peace. Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. The Psalmist tells us that: 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire. 
Psalm 46:9 

And, as we reflected on in service a few weeks ago, Jesus declared: 

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God. 
Matthew 5:9 

Reflecting on God’s character as a God of Peace and these recent events, I have hope that God will bring the world to a more full and complete peace before Jesus comes back to establish His peaceful kingdom.  And yet, in many ways, our hopes in this life are tested. Just this week, Pakistan and the Taliban have engaged in a border conflict that has left at least a dozen people dead and more than a hundred wounded.  In the face of such seemingly unending conflict and evil in our world, it is possible to lose the feeling of hope, of hopefulness. However, we are also called to have faith in God and in His character and promises. Jesus promised His disciples:  

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 
John 14:27 

We can also rest in His promise of eternal peace. Our Lord and Master has promised us an end to striving, an end to the conflict and struggle of this sinful and fallen world. Have faith in Our Lord’s words that were revealed to John: 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 
Revelation 21:3-4 

Ours is a faith of believing, living in the now and the not yet. Filled with hope as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is going forward and faith that no matter what conflict and wars come, God is Peace. He gifts His people peace, calls us to be peacemakers, and promises eternal peace one day. Join us in praying for peace in the struggles of our brothers and sisters, and for peace in our world that points people to Christ.   

God’s Peace and Presence be with you all,  
Noah