What is this peace thing?

I have often pondered over today's Gospel passage in which Jesus proclaims, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you." So what type of peace do we have in the world or better yet how does the world give us peace and how does that contrast with peace of Christ. If there is peace in the world it is hard to find amidst all the violence and vitriol that seems to flood the news cycle and social media circuit.

As my pastor said today "the peace that is proclaimed is not the absence of war." However, that is what we are lead to believe.  Perhaps that is why Jesus states, "not as the world gives us peace."
We are lead to believe that we can find peace in comfort and the transitory awards of  material things.  When we have these and financial security peace permeates our being or does it? Time and time again we see that people that "have it all" become emotional wrecks as they seek to fill themselves with the inescapable thirst for something fulfilling.  Many of us have had similar experiences as the drive to fulfill career and family responsibilities becomes all consuming. If we have this position we will be at peace or if we have this salary we will  no longer worry about financial insecurity.

On a global scale if one nation stops escalations does peace then exist?  Maybe between nations which in itself is good, but then action or words seems bring on tensions once again.  This peace is short lived. Treaties are signed, conflict arises, treaties are broken, war starts again. Differentiating between the Gospel version of peace and human peace is important.

So what does Jesus give us?  He promises us a place in his house where there are many rooms. In Revelations the new Jerusalem is radiating beyond any human description where God's people may rest.  Search on the web "To be at peace with oneself" and you will find any number of entries beginning with Buddhism, psychology, motivational websites and the list goes on to 189,000,000 more. If I can't be at peace with myself then knowing that Jesus is the only lasting peace that is reassuring. Going to Him with my troubles, anxieties, and tensions in prayer at any given time provides the inner peace.  Yes, it took many decades to figure this out, but I think I have the found the answer. May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you.