Last week, we began our discussion of Peace, looking at the most important kind of Peace which is for us to have “PEACE with God.” In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he communicated how we can all experience this peace:

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Once a person has been “justified by faith,” and having obtained “peace with God,” it is important for the new Christian to also experience the “PEACE of God.” And that’s where we will turn our attention today.

So many of us search for a peace that will calm our worries and take away our fears, but we usually search in all the wrong places. We must realize that only the “Peace of God” will truly fill our souls and ease our anxieties. Jesus Himself told us that His peace is not like the world’s peace, but it is a peace that is not based upon our circumstances. It is a peace that transcends our circumstances and protects our hearts and minds from worry and fear. Here is what Jesus said,

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Here, Jesus reassures us that His peace is different from worldly peace. His gift of peace is a genuine peace that brings comfort and tranquility of soul. When we invite Christ into our lives, we have access to this incredible peace that transforms our inner turmoil into a peace that is beyond our understanding.  

It is interesting to note that even the Old Testament saints had access to this peace, as Isaiah told the people of Judah,

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

Isaiah saw the vital connection between trusting God and experiencing His peace. When we fix our thoughts on Him, He reassures us of His presence and loving care.

The Apostle Paul provides the key to experiencing this peace, and it comes through prayer. Here is what he wrote to the church in Philippi,

“Don’t worry about anything, but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)

I once heard someone say: “God’s peace serves as a protective barrier, keeping our hearts and minds safe amid the storms of life.” When we place our trust in Christ, we can experience a peace that goes beyond our own finite logic or understanding.

I love the fact that the Apostle Paul constantly prayed for God to provide His peace to the persecuted Christians in the churches he planted throughout the Roman Empire. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul prayed,

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Here, Paul links both joy and peace, knowing that when we are experiencing God’s peace, we are also filled with joy. And in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote,

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

The above passages of Scripture provide the keys to experiencing the “Peace of God” in our lives – It is by bringing our needs before God in prayer; by keeping our minds focused on Him; and by trusting Him to provide all of our needs. I pray that each of us will put these truths into practice this week.

God bless you, and I hope to see you next week.