The world is in chaos. Our lives are often in chaos. How do some people look like their trials and troubles don’t phase them? How is it that some people, in the middle of a struggle, appear, un-rattled, and unshaken by it at all?
The Bible tells us that God promises to provide His peace, even when we experience life altering circumstances.
Jesus said in John 14:27 “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. not as the world gives to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” If we trust God’s promises we have no reason to be afraid. Yet, many think it’s not possible, or that is not true, because they have never experienced anything like what God said He would do.
A good example was the way people acted during the Covid fiasco in 2019-2021
There are two types of peace offered by God that the Bible talks about: the peace with God and the peace of God.
Peace with God
Peace with God happens when someone places their trust in Jesus. The Bible calls this being reconciled to God in 2 Corinthians 5:18,
“But all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Yeshua the Messiah, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (Messianic)
I learned this as being “born again.” John 1:12-13 says, God has provided a path for His creation of man to be restored (reconciled) back to a relationship with Him. John writes, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.”
God‘s promise of offering peace that the world cannot give, that passes all understanding, is given under one condition: peace with God is for those who trust in Him to save them from sin, and from God’s judgment of punishment and wrath.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
The Bible describes that as being set free, no longer in bondage to our sin that keeps us separated from God, but now free in God‘s truth and adopted into His family as His children.
It is through being born again that we can experience peace with God rather than enemies of God. Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by His life.”
If you are no experiencing God’s peace, you may need to consider going to God, trusting in Jesus, and becoming born again.
Peace of God
When John records, Jesus saying, “My peace I give to you.” It is in context of Jesus speaking with His disciples -those who followed (and follow) Him. He tells them to expect struggles and hardships., the same as every other person in the world, but that they – His followers do not need to fear or fret about their circumstances. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, with guard your hearts and your thoughts in Messiah Yeshua.” Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us, just as He promised His disciples.
Jesus also tells us another important truth in 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your worries on Him because He cares for you.”
He wants to take our anxiety and fear from us, but we have to give them over to Him. When we do, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” -Matthew 11:28.
God promises His children that we will nothing to fear when we follow Him. He also tells us how we can experience His peace.
When believers keep their focus on God rather than the upsetting circumstances around them, God is able to intervene in those circumstances and give His peace to us.
Experiencing peace with God and bring a person into a personal relationship with Him. It is then that, throughout all of life on earth, we can experience the peace of God in every circumstance. God is faithful and fulfills His promise to always be with us and will give us peace.
From Pity to Praise 