This is Paul’s salutation, his farewell, in this letter to the Thessalonian church. They had been dealing with persecution, so it makes sense that he closes with prayers for peace. Having peace in the middle of trials is important. But it can be hard to attain.Read More>>

Being told that I am soon to betray and abandon the Messiah does not seem like something that would bring me peace. Being told that I will face suffering doesn’t invoke peacefulness. Being told to be courageous doesn’t necessarily make me brave.Read More>>

What does it mean to seek out peace and pursue it? David was hiding in a cave. He was fleeing from King Saul and King Achish of Gath. By reading the story in First Samuel, it seems like David isn’t sure where to go, who to trust, and what exactly he’s supposed to be doing. So instead of wallowing in self-pity, he wrote a song of praise. Read More>>