To Be True Counselors of Peace
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Dear Friends,
In today’s world, arguments and divisions are seen everywhere. They exist between believers of the same faith, people who work together, pray in the same synagogue or the same church, serve in the same army unit, attend the same school—even family members living in the same house.
Peace can be difficult to see sometimes. Though we trust in God to bring us peace, it is easy to get distracted by the pain and suffering that surrounds us. Often we lose sight of peace and instead find ourselves stuck in a place of distress.
The Lord knows our minds and hearts. He understands that to be human means that we will wander from His peace, and head into times of worry. Matt. 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life”. Yeshua knows that His words can bring us back to His peace.
We are called to replace anxiety with prayer and thankfulness:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 Messiah Yeshua.”
Philippians 4:6-7
In Romans 5:1-4 He tells us:
“Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of God’s glory. And not only that, but we also boast in suffering—knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.”
Here we see God’s promise—that our suffering has a purpose. The pain and anguish we face bring us perseverance and that same perseverance is required to have true faith in God. Our perseverance in all things will set us free, and bring us closer to Him.
While this perseverance is righteous, it sometimes feels at odds with our understanding of God’s peace. Therefore we must consider: “What does peace look like in a time of uncertainty, distrust, and insecurity; where will we find God’s peace in these dark times; and how does perseverance create peace here on earth?”
We must take an active role in our faith. We must persevere to create His peace here on earth, even when the world around us is anything but peaceful.
In Hebrew, the word for peace is “shalom,” and shalem (which has the same root letters as “shalom”) means “whole.” We are made whole when we have peace, and we have peace through faith in God, and our cooperation with His will here on earth.
For 27 years Vision for Israel worked with her partners to bring peace and wholeness to the disadvantaged and downtrodden in Israel. Those who have suffered from violence, hatred, abuse, and abject poverty.
The ongoing work also brings peace and protection from rocket attacks in highly populated areas. As we pray for spiritual peace, we are also building physical protections with mobile shelters around areas of high conflict. Each mobile concrete shelter costs $12,000. As we continue to bring comfort to many who are struggling in other areas and walks of life here in Israel, our hope is for our friends and partners to participate in whatever way they can to restore the peace that passes all understanding.
In times like the present, when we are all being greatly tested, we must persevere against darkness and create peace in our hearts. We must bring peace to our families, friends, and community. Today, as ever, we ask that you continue your partnership with us, as we persevere toward a more just and peaceful Israel—and bring Shalom to the world.
Serving with His Shalom,
Batya & Barry
