What is peace?

The word “peace” is used in many different ways. It can mean the absence of war or conflict, like nations or families living in harmony. On a personal level, peace describes a deep sense of contentment where there is no inner struggle.

In the Bible, we read about Jesus calming a tumultuous (wild and stormy) sea by commanding it to be quiet, which was followed by a great calm (Mark 4:35-41). In the same way, following the commands of Jesus can bring peace to our stormy lives.

When people search for peace, they are usually looking for:

• Freedom from anxiety and constant worry.
• Acceptance of themselves and their current situation in life.
• Peace with God in their spiritual relationship.
• Harmonious (peaceful and cooperative) relationships with the people around them.

Free of Anxiety

Anxiety Steals Internal Peace

Anxiety is the enemy of peace. We are constantly bombarded with bad news about the economy, politics, or health. Even when nothing bad has actually happened, the fear of what might happen can drag us into a downward spiral of worry and pessimism (focusing only on the worst outcomes).

Think of how often the news predicts disasters that never actually happen. For example, years ago, experts warned that frequent super-hurricanes would devastate the U.S. coast. Instead, the country went nearly a decade without a major hurricane making landfall. Worrying about things that will never happen wastes precious time and robs us of today’s blessings.

Discontent Steals Internal Peace

Much of our anxiety comes from the gap between how our lives actually are and how we think they should be. For example, if you work a repetitive, low-paying job but feel you should be a high-paid manager by now, that gap will cause frustration.

On the other hand, if you feel you are exactly where you need to be for your career stage, you will feel satisfied. The same applies to our social lives. If we feel we should have lots of friends but find ourselves alone and bored, we become discontented.

The secret to overcoming this frustration is acceptance. Acceptance does not mean giving up. It means acknowledging the choices and events that brought you to your current state, while still working to make things better.

Those who lack peace tend to dwell on the gap between reality and expectations. They blame themselves, God, or others, and lose hope that things will ever change. The better we get at accepting reality while actively working for improvement, the more peace we will experience.

Finding Peace With God’s Strength

When faced with bad news, you must realize that some things are in your control, while others are not. You cannot control the global economy, the job market, or national elections. You can vote, manage your money, and build your skills, but the larger outcomes are out of your hands.

For the Christian, comfort comes from knowing that God is in control of the world for His own good purposes. Sometimes, God allows difficult things to happen to bring about a greater good. God has not promised us a paradise on earth, so we should not expect one.

Here are four practical ways to find peace:

1. Trust God to take care of your basic needs. This does not mean you sit back and do nothing, because God expects us to work. In Matthew 5:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry about food or clothing. He reminds us that the same God who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers will care for us. While we have a responsibility to work, it is foolish to waste energy worrying about these basic necessities. Jesus promised that if we focus on God’s kingdom first, the Father will take care of our needs.

2. Trust God with your future. The writer James warns us that our plans will only succeed “if the Lord wills” (James 4:13-17). We should make plans, but we must also accept that things might turn out differently than we expected.

   There is comfort in the words of a familiar song:

   “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”

   We can face tomorrow’s political, economic, and personal uncertainties because the God who guided us today will be with us tomorrow. Despite the chaos of the world, God remains in control.

   As Romans 13 teaches, God is sovereign (has supreme power) over governments and their leaders. Even when the world grows darker, God can use that darkness to make the light of His people shine even brighter.

3. Learn contentment in every situation. It is easy to be happy when we have plenty of money and comfort. The real challenge is finding contentment when we have very little.

   Writing from a prison cell, Paul encouraged the Philippians to be joyful. He explained that he had learned to be content in any situation (Philippians 4:10-13). The famous verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is not about physical strength or winning games; it is about the spiritual power to be content when life is hard.

   We must accept that even when we do our best, things will not always go our way. When we pray, we often ask God to change our circumstances, but God is often using those circumstances to change us.

   Through trials, we grow stronger, develop patience, and build endurance. If God does not remove your burden, ask Him for the strength to carry it (2 Corinthians 12:6-10).

4. Trust God with everything. In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul shares how we can experience a peace that is beyond human understanding. Notice the bold words in his command:

   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

   To experience this peace, you must give everything to God. It is easy to say we trust God, but then we immediately start worrying about the outcome.

   True freedom from anxiety comes when we believe that God is active, that He cares for us, and that He will work all things together for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

   I recently spoke with a woman whose cancer was in remission (temporary recovery). She told me she never worried because she trusted God with the outcome, whether that meant life or death. Because her perspective was focused on eternity, she experienced a profound peace.

Peace Within

Sometimes we lack peace because we refuse to forgive ourselves for past mistakes. While it is important to learn from our failures, we must not dwell on wasted time or lost opportunities.

We can actually use our past struggles to help others escape similar sins. Despair and self-loathing (hating oneself) will not change the past. Instead, it robs us of the energy we need to do good today.

If we would easily offer grace and forgiveness to a friend who is hurting, we must learn to extend that same grace to ourselves. Forgiving ourselves is a crucial step toward healing. We are works in progress, and we must accept that we are not perfect. When we focus on serving God today rather than regret from yesterday, we become far more useful in His service.

Peace With God

In Romans 5:6-11, Paul reminds us that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners to reconcile (restore relationship) us to the Father. If He loved us that much when we were in rebellion, how much more will He bless us now that we are His children?

When we obey His will, enjoy His grace, and do His work, we find true security (2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Colossians 1:21-23). The Christian can sleep peacefully and live calmly because our greatest peace was bought by the blood of Christ.

Peace, Perfect Peace

When we reconcile with God, forgive ourselves, and hand our worries over to Him, we will experience a peace that surpasses understanding.

This peace remains with us even when:

• We face difficult trials.
• The world around us is in chaos.
• We do not get what we want.

Peace is a beautiful spiritual gift. If you feel your heart drifting from it, take a step back and anchor yourself in God’s promises.