Why So Little Peace?

The Bible gives two basic reasons for the lack of peace in the world-be it inner peace or peace between people.  The first is explained at Jeremiah 10:23:  "To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."  Man has neither the wisdom nor the foresight to rule himself without help, and the only help that has real value comes from God. Humans who do not seek God's guidance will never attain lasting peace.  The second reason for the lack of peace is seen in the words of the apostle John:  "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."  (1 John 5:19) Without divine guidance, man's efforts to gain peace will always be frustrated by the activities of the unseen but very real-and very powerful-"wicked one," Satan. 

For these two reasons-that most people do not seek God's guidance and that Satan is very active in the world-the human race as a whole is in a sorry state. The apostle Paul well described it:  "All creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now."  (Romans 8:22) Who can disagree with that assessment?  In wealthy  nations as well as poor ones, family problems, crime,  injustice, personality conflicts, economic  uncertainty, tribal and ethnic hatreds, oppression,  sickness, and much more, rob people of their peace of mind. 

Next time: Where to Find Inner Peace

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000