Experiencing God’s Peace

“The fruit of the Spirit is…peace.” Galatians 5:22

What exactly is this peace that God’s Spirit gives? Many people think of peace as the absence of problems, as the feeling that is experienced when all is well. But the peace of the Lord is not related to circumstances at all. In fact, God’s peace comes to us and endures… regardless of life’s circumstances.

Our daughter Courtney and her husband Paul were the reason we moved to Hawaii. We visited the island, where they were stationed with the Navy, several times before moving there ourselves. On one trip, the island of Kuai had recently experienced the ravages of a hurricane. As Jim and I drove around the island, we noticed not only the remaining evidence of destruction, but also the huge warning sirens on every beach and in every town. Having just been through a 6.7 earthquake in Southern California, we could well imagine something of the fear the islanders must have felt as those sirens wailed on that fateful September day.

But we could also imagine the peace they must have felt when those same devices finally sounded the all-clear signal. But, can you imagine having perfect peace regardless of whether  the sirens are signaling a storm or whether the hurricane is actually roaring around you? That, my friend, is the kind of peace God makes available to you and me for the storms of life. Notice these truths about this peace that comes from God.

• Our peace has nothing to do with our circumstances, and everything to do with knowing we have a right relationship with God.

•  Our peace has nothing to do with daily challenges or crises, and everything to do with knowing that our times are in God’s hands.

•  Our peace has nothing to do with the conditions of our life, and everything to do with knowing that God is all-sufficient.

•  Our peace is an inward repose and serenity of soul that indicates a heart at rest—regardless of our cir­cumstances—as we place complete confidence in God minute by minute.

True spiritual peace comes with knowing that our heav­enly Father is continually with us—and indeed He is! God is omnipresent and therefore fully aware of every detail of our life—at every moment and in every place. He knows our needs—at all times and in every situation.

Psalm 139:7-12 teaches that we can never be anyplace—from the heights of heaven to the depths of the sea—where God is not present with us and available to us. Key to our peace, then, is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God, no matter what the conflict.6 I have to tell you that just writing about God’s personal and continuous presence is bringing a fresh sense of peace to my soul right this minute!

Peace also comes with acknowledging that God will supply our every need as well as acknowledging His con­stant presence. For instance, when Paul asked Jesus to remove the thorn in his flesh and Jesus said no, the apostle Paul learned the truth of Jesus’ statement:

“My grace is suf­ficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Paul learned for him­self the truth he wrote in Philippians 4:19—”God [will] supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”—and, in 2 Corinthians 9:8, that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

Do you realize what these promises mean to you and me? They mean that we will never have a real need that God is not able to meet. What a reason for peace that truth is!

A Prayer to Pray:

Jesus, I praise You! You’ve given me many astounding gifts and provided for and watched over me in countless ways. You are ever-present and everlasting. And You love me. Amazing. Amen

You will find more about God’s wonderful character and provision in Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George.

Read Experiencing God’s Peace on Elizabeth & Jim George.