The Peace We Long For

Most of us spend our lives trying to shine.

We want to be noticed, feel needed, and prove that we matter. Success can feel like a scoreboard, and many of us are quietly keeping track. But here’s something I’ve learned over the years. The harder we try to outshine others, the less peace we often feel.

Why is that?

Because real peace has a source. And it is not found in self-promotion or performance. We experience real peace when our lives are aligned with God.

A Man on a Mission

Before we look at today’s passage, it helps to clear up something that can be confusing. There are two Johns in this story.

One is John the Apostle, the author of the Gospel and a close friend of Jesus. The other is John the Baptist, a fiery prophet who lived in the wilderness, dressed in camel hair long before it was fashionable, and preached repentance before Jesus began his public ministry.

John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way.

“There was a man sent from God whose name was John.” John 1:6

If you remember the movie The Blues Brothers, two lines stand out: “We’re getting the band back together” and “We’re on a mission from God.”

In John the Baptist’s case, that second line was literally true. He was not self-appointed. He was sent. There is a big difference between the two.

John did not create his calling. He responded to it.

Pointing, Not Shining

John’s mission was simple and focused.

“He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.” John 1:7

A credible witness does not create evidence. They point to it.

That stands in sharp contrast to the message of our culture. Draw attention to yourself. Build your brand. Make your mark.

God says something different. Point to me. Be my witness.

This difference helps explain why so many people feel exhausted and anxious. When your value is tied to performance, success, or approval, peace is always just out of reach. If you live for applause, you will spend your whole life trying to make people clap.

But when you live for God’s glory instead of your own, something shifts. You stop chasing approval and start resting in your true identity.

Knowing Who You Are, and Who You Are Not

John the Baptist understood his role.

“He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” John 1:8

Besides the camel hair wardrobe, this is one of the reasons I appreciate him. He knew exactly who he was and who he was not. That is a lesson I wish I had learned earlier in life.

Much of our anxiety comes from trying to control what we cannot control. Psychologists tell us that. Neuroscientists tell us our brains are wired for safety, yet we live in a world that rarely feels safe.

Our culture makes it worse by insisting we build a fully self-made identity. Be successful. Be admired. Hold it all together. And then we wonder why we are so tired.

I can tell you from personal experience that anxiety grows when I try to be what only Jesus can be. My Savior. My provider. The light for my path.

John the Baptist kept saying, “I’m not the light, but I can point you to the One who is.”

Leaders and high achievers should pay attention to that. Your peace will grow when you let Jesus be the hero.

The Light for Everyone

John’s story ends where it was always meant to end, with Jesus.

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9

Christianity is often criticized as being exclusive because Jesus makes bold claims about himself. He calls himself the way, the truth, and the life. That can sound narrow in a world that values endless options.

But narrow does not mean exclusive.

When you flip on the light in a dark room, it does not pick favorites. It does not discriminate. It shines on everything.

The true light gives light to everyone. The invitation is global. The door is wide open.

That is one of the things I love about Calvary. We are like a big table with all kinds of people sitting around it. The joyful and the hurting. The hopeful and the uncertain. When you read the Gospels, that is exactly the kind of table Jesus is drawn to.

Receiving His Peace

If you are still searching and unsure where you stand with God, start here. Recognize that there is a true light, and that this light has come into the world. His name is Jesus.

And he offers you his peace.

If you are new to following Jesus, here is something I wish someone had told me early on. You do not need all the answers. Just point others to the One who changed you. Share what you know. That is how you reflect his light.

And if you have been serving faithfully but peace feels far away, remember this. Your job is not to hold the world together. Your job is to hold on to the One who does.

As a church, let’s be the kind of place where people walk in and immediately sense peace, not because everything is perfect, but because the light of Jesus is shining through us.