Peace with God

From the beginning of time mankind has been on a search to try and figure out how to get in touch with forces beyond their knowing to gain favor and help for things outside their control. People began to sacrifice their crops, livestock, wine, their own blood, body parts and first born children in hopes of securing a better outcome on serious issues in life. It's a rather morbid history, but nonetheless true. The Bible is a perfect historical account of such matters, and deeply misunderstood by many in western culture. The need to "do something" in hopes of hooking God's eye and ear to better secure our ongoing relationship is from time immemorial.
However, in our religious culture, we still do the same things, maybe in different ways than described in the Old Testament, but follow after the same need to try and gain favor with an invisible God whose attention we so desperately need to gain. We go about it with the same religious fervor and zeal as both Hebrew and pagan peoples attempted to merit favor. We still sacrifice, observe ordinances, serve rules and regulations, create new never before prescribed laws to follow, give till it hurts, attend services till we're worn out and jump through every religious umpires hoops in hopes of not being disqualified from the prize of winning the gold medal of God's approval.
It's obvious that we have a deeply seated need for something we just can't reconcile ourselves to in our minds and hearts. That being, peace. An inner conflict is created because of our knowing that we have not measured up to God's standard either makes us ashamed and unwilling to approach him, or we cover our naked sins with the fig leaves of self-righteous deception in hopes that God won't notice and accept our perspective that we're "good people." Both deadly spiritually.
The old archaic and useless system and methods of sacrifices as a means of appeasing God's justice and granting temporary approval is over. The sacrifice of one greater than any bull or goat ultimately put to rest the need for offerings, rules, regulations, laws, religious observances, etc. that cushion our conscience toward our idea of what's necessary for favor with God.
There is no need to follow rules...
There is no need to observe laws...
There is no need to do special works....
All of these create a greater anxiety in our hearts and minds, because these observances cannot secure the one essential byproduct of peace, which is ASSURANCE.
There is, however, a means by which a human soul can be firmly fixed in the matter of knowing where we stand with God. FAITH.
The book of Romans chapter 5 verse 1 declares; "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand... confidently...."

Can we trust God with a promise like that?
Can we embrace a simple truth and be forever set free from the uncertainty, fear, anxiety and pain of being outside of God's favor?
Can it really be this easy? Obviously... in our minds and hearts... it's not.
Then again, the Old Testament story of Abraham clearly given for our benefit. Romans 4:21,22 "He (Abraham) was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abrahams's faith, God declared him to be righteous."

Will you drop your heavy load of baggage you've been clinging to that's made you weary from trying to accomplish what only God can do for you? Come before him without it this time empty-handed and say, "I believe... help my unbelief. Give me faith to trust that in Christ your promise is enough to give me once and for all time the PEACE that passes understanding."
Then take the next step. REST in the confident assurance that God will accomplish what he said he would do without your assistance and efforts. THAT, my friend, is peace.
Trust him.
Peace be unto you.
Drink deeply.
JP