The Peace of God

By Jerelyn Wright Pearson

 

My husband Jay and I often start our day drinking coffee on the back porch swing. Sometimes we are early enough to catch the sunrise and experience the day awakening with its subtle sights, sounds and scenery. It’s such a peaceful time to appreciate God’s creation and start our day. We are thankful to have this opportunity. But we know that experiencing peace in our lives is more than being able to relax in a nice setting from time to time.

God gives us peace for a purpose. His peace is always with us. When we allow the peace of God to reign in our lives, we can find peace despite how chaotic our circumstances are. Peace is more than just sitting and relaxing. Peace is action in accordance with seeking the Lord’s will. We will all experience times of trouble and hardship, and moments of distress. But without the peace of God, we would have no foundation to stand on. We would have no hope.

Most people search for peace in their lives. The world is full of advice for achieving a state of peace. Many attend classes designed to relieve stress. Some practice relaxation techniques to calm themselves. Others participate in physical activities to relieve stress. More and more of us are relying on medication to lessen our load. Of course, we all look forward to vacations to escape our day-to-day routines. Many of these activities are beneficial to our health and wellbeing. They provide peace of mind temporarily.

Peace is a quality that is desired and sought after. We even have laws against “disturbing the peace.” Peace is often hard to find. Our peace can be disturbed easily. It can be disturbed by others, by circumstances, by loud noises, and often by our own thoughts.

We don’t have much control over others, unexpected circumstances, or loud noises. But you would think we’d have control over our own thoughts. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find myself in the middle of a train of unpleasant thoughts with no idea how I got there. I seem to be especially vulnerable when I wake up in the middle of the night. Sometimes it takes quite a while to find peace and fall back asleep.

But there is a form of peace that passes all understanding. Let’s look at Philippians 4:7.

Philippians 4:7 
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jesus desires for us to have peace both in our hearts and in our minds.

In John 14, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure.He explains that he will send the comforter, the Holy Ghost, who will teach them and help them to remember. Then he promises to give them peace. And not only them, but us too!

John 14:26 
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In John 14:27 we find that the gives us HIS peace the PEACE OF GOD!

John 14:27 
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus gives us his peace, Godly peace, not worldly peace. It is his peace that keeps our hearts in times of trouble or fear.

Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts.

Colossians 3:15 
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

We must let the peace of God reign not only in our individual hearts, but also in our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ We have an individual body, and we are part of a bigger body. So how can we let God’s peace rule in our individual heart and in the collective heart of the body of Christ?

Matthew Henry expresses it this way:
“We are called to this peace, to peace with God as our privilege and peace with our brethren as our duty. Being united in one body, we are called to e a peace one with another, as the members of the natural body for we are the body of Christ, and members in particular…”

We receive individual peace as our privilege. We receive peace with other members of the body of Christ as our duty. In addition to accepting God’s peace in our hearts and within the Body of Christ, we are also called to, “Be ye thankful.” Being thankful for our peace, energizes our peace within us.

Thank the Lord for his peace!

Throughout the scriptures God teaches us about his peace in both our hearts and minds. What can we do to keep God’s peace in our hearts and minds? He doesn’t leave us without instruction and encouragement. For one thing, we can keep our minds focused on him and trust in him, as Isaiah tells us in chapter 26, verses 3 and 4.

Isaiah 26:3-4 
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

He is worthy of our focus and trust because he, the LORD JEHOVAH, is everlasting strength.

We can also keep his peace in our hearts and minds by rejoicing in him and making requests of him with thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:4 
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

When we do these things, his peace will keep our hearts and minds.

Philippians 4:7 
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In those times when we struggle to keep our focus, and allow troubling thoughts to invade our minds, we can always turn to Philippians 4:8-9 to find a very helpful list. We can think about these things:

Philippians 4:8 
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

When we read this list, it is helpful to think of specific personal examples of each one.
In Philippians 4:9 Paul encourages us that we too can and should do what we have learned, received, heard, and seen in him.

Philippians 4:9 
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Paul isn’t listing these things for us to admire what he did. He is telling us to DO the things he has done because we are able. And the God of peace shall be with you.

Unfortunately not all will receive this message of peace. There will be those who depart. Paul addresses this circumstance in 1 Corinthians 7:15.

1 Corinthians 7:15 
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

Sometimes it is necessary when you’ve been witnessing to someone who is not responsive, to let that person go. Not all will respond. It may be more profitable to move on and continue to witness to those who are responsive. Perhaps that person will have another opportunity at another time. Perhaps it is the last opportunity. God only knows.

In conclusion let’s remember that God offers us a peace that passes ALL understanding.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This peace that we receive will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In John 14:26-27, after Jesus explains to his disciples that he will send the comforter who will teach them and help them to remember, he leaves them with his peace.

John 14:26-27
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus gives us his peace, Godly peace, not worldly peace. It is his peace that keeps our hearts in times of trouble or fear.

 

---

Presented June 8, 2025 in French Settlement, Louisiana