The word “serenity” is a special word to me. This word always brings me to a place of calmness and stillness. Maybe this word has a special place in your heart too. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I’m always looking for serenity and calmness.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that the majority of the people in the present day are also seeking out serenity. In this article, we are going to be covering what serenity means in Christianity.
How Is Serenity Defined?
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines serenity as “the quality or state of being serene; clearness and calmness; quietness; stillness; peace.” In our hectic, nonstop days, we are all seeking out a little bit of peace and serenity.
Personally, I know that I’m constantly searching for serenity. Through daily stressors, triggering situations, and nonstop anxiety, it’s hard to find serenity. I do not think I’m alone in this struggle.
Serenity within Christianity means the same thing as the definition given by Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary.
The main difference that Christianity has surrounding this term is that Christianity would argue that the ultimate source of serenity is found in Christ and in Christ alone.
Even aspects of nature that bring serenity, such as the calming ocean, the beautiful waterfalls, or the colorful sunset, all find their source in Jesus.
We can experience serenity by simply sitting at the feet of Jesus. While we cannot literally sit at the feet of Jesus as His followers did during His earthly ministry, we can open our Bibles, read our Bibles, and pray to Him.
Often, it is easy to overlook the Bible in our daily lives, but if there’s anything that we need to be reading every day, it’s the Bible. Most of us read the paper, a book, or scroll through social media in the morning.
Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if any of these items actually bring serenity to your soul?
The paper is filled with the terrors of bad news, books can sometimes have depressing themes or unrealistic endings, and social media usually makes us feel crestfallen over our own lives.
Instead of reading the paper, a book, or scrolling through social media, try reading the Bible and see if it helps you feel some serenity in your soul.
God Gives Serenity
God truly gives us serenity when we turn to Him, pray, and read the Bible. Isaiah 26:3 tells us this truth, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
This passage of the Old Testament tells us that if we keep our minds steadfast on God and trust Him, God will keep us in perfect peace. In other words, if our hearts and minds are focused on God, we will obtain the serenity we are searching for.
When we keep our focus on Jesus, the things of the world will disappear. The constant roaring of the world to “do better,” “have more,” and “be more successful” all disappear when we shift our focus onto Christ.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3).
By keeping our eyes, hearts, and minds on Jesus, we will have serenity.
Serenity means we have this peace, calmness, and stillness in us. We will not obtain this peace, calmness, and stillness if we are constantly focusing on the incoming emails, the rings on our phones, or the most updated news on the television.
All of these things bring anxiety and pressure into our hearts. Serenity can be obtained through focusing on Jesus and His Word. There are many things in this world that promise serenity, such as a yoga class, a painting class, or an elaborate course on the Internet for “finding serenity.”
The truth is that none of these things can provide lasting serenity. They might provide short-term peace, but they will not provide long-lasting serenity like Jesus will provide.
Seeking Serenity
If you are seeking serenity, turn no further than God and His Word.
Philippians 4:4-7 tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
By presenting our requests to God through prayer and petition, this Bible verse tells us that God will give us the peace that transcends all understanding. Paul also tells us what we need to focus our thoughts on in this passage of the New Testament.
He challenges us by saying, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
If we think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, God’s peace will come upon us.
Dwelling on negative thoughts or lies will only cause serenity to slip out of our reach. If we follow Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:6-9, we can experience the serenity of God.
God does not withhold His peace and serenity from anyone. He wants all people to turn to Him, read His Word, and pray to Him. To know that the Creator of the world loves you thinks about you, and desires to have a relationship with you should bring great serenity to come into your soul.
Even if your life has always been full of unrest, God can help you have a life of peace by setting your mind, heart, and eyes on Him.
The world and false religions will try to offer serenity in a myriad of ways, including “the Serenity Prayer” of Catholicism, but none of these things can actually give a person true serenity. There are but ideas and concepts made up by mankind.
True serenity is found in nothing and no one besides Christ. Serenity means being calm, peaceful, and still, which can only come about by focusing on Christ. Focusing on the world or the desires of the flesh will not bring serenity into our bones.
In fact, focusing on the world and the desires of the flesh will most likely cause you more anxiety and stress. True serenity can only come from Jesus and His love.
If we set our hearts on Jesus and follow His guidance, we will have the peace that will fill our hearts, minds, and souls with true serenity.
For further reading:
15 Prayers for Peace to Experience Comfort and Stillness
Does God Always Promise Us Peace?
What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Peace Be Still’?
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