The Only Road to Peace and Joy in a Troubled World

Written by Jimmie Burroughs

“I know a peace, where there is no peace,
A calm, where wild winds blow,
A secret place where face to face
With the Master I may go.”
-Ralph Spaulding Cushman

In his book, “The Secret to Happiness,” Billy Graham said, “Man is on a quest to fill the vacuum in his heart, and only a relationship with God can fill that vacuum.” Many are trying to fill that vacuum and find peace and joy in all the wrong places; others are trying to escape life’s realities with drugs or alcohol, but the peace and joy they seek eludes them. All the things the world searches for, education, knowledge, fame, fortune, power, pleasure, human relationships and marriage are not inherently bad but miss the mark. There is an emptiness and loneliness that reigns throughout the world, troubled minds and empty souls.Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

The Bible says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: ¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” Matthew 7:13-14. The broad way is the easy way. You need not do anything to be on it, just follow others like a lamb to slaughter. The narrow way requires a change of mind and a change of direction. The purpose of this article is to try to make you aware of that need.

Only God who created us understands the needs of the heart, and there can be no true peace and joy until we are in harmony with His will through Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world, according to Luke 1:79, “to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Again, Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We live in a darkened world where Jesus offers light where there is darkness, hope where there is discouragement and despair, joy where there is sorrow and grief, peace where there is unrest, and eternal life where there is eternal death.

Sin is like a heavy burden carried on the shoulders of man from day to day, which has no other remedy other than repentance of sin and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. For the Bible says, “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” Acts 3:19. Are you ready to receive God’s wonderful promise, given in His Word? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9. There is power in Christ redeeming blood; power to fill that void you feel in your heart. Instead fear and resentment there will be peace and joy. Instead of hatred and animosity, there will be love and forgiveness.

We live in a fearful world filled with violence. The antidote is only found in Christ the Lord. He loves us and wants to give us an abundant life: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” John 10:10. We no longer need to carry a load of care; for the Scripture says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”1 Peter 5:7.Again we read in Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Your search for meaning and purpose to fill the void in your heart can be over when you invite Jesus into your life. He will give you calm and peace. Like the poet you can say:

I know a peace, where there is no peace,
A calm, where wild winds blow,
A secret place where face to face
With the Master I may go.
-Ralph Spaulding Cushman

You will find “The Only Road to Peace and Joy in a Troubled World.” Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” Revelation 3:20. When you open the door to your heart and invite Him in, He will come in with His love and glory to calm your restless heart and fill you with His peace and joy.  The greatest of it all, He will give you eternal life and one day open the door of heaven to you.

We can’t avoid the trouble that comes in life, but through the power of Christ we can overcome it. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and receive His promise of peace and even more, His promise of eternal life? If so, I have prepared step by step instructions, based on the Bible, how you may do so, just click here.