There’s a story of a man who kept a small “lucky stone” in his pocket. He rubbed it before job interviews, doctor’s appointments, and difficult conversations. One day he lost it. Panic set in. He tore apart his house, retraced his steps, and even called friends to help him search. Hours later, exhausted and embarrassed, he realized something: He had placed his peace in something that could be lost.

Many of us do the same thing. We depend on people who can disappoint us. We depend on possessions that can be taken from us. We depend on positions that can change overnight. And we even depend on pleasures that fade as quickly as they come. No wonder peace feels so fragile.

But the early church found a ‘peace’ that persecution couldn’t ...