Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Published on 04/28/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.

Are you able to feel at peace even when life bombards you with hardship? If not, how can you achieve peace when life gets tough?

In one January, Tammy Brackett, a music publicist/writer, experienced the financial pain that many Americans were going through during the great depression. "My income was reduced by 2/3 because of a job layoff," says Tammy. Yet, she was able to feel at peace.

When Donna Ratner, a certified holistic health counselor, was 14, her 22-year-old brother died suddenly in a swimming pool accident. When she was 23, living in New York City, she got held up at gunpoint. Donna recalls, "He followed me up to my apartment, stole my most precious belongings, made me strip naked and lie facedown in the hallway outside my apartment." Still, Donna was able to remain peaceful in both situations.

A summer day, when music teacher Janita Pavelka was at home, she received a call, telling her that her 10-year-old daughter Hannah was knocked unconscious by a friend's horse. Fortunately, Hanna is doing well, after receiving 18 stitches in her head. What helped the family through this difficult time? Peace.

Yes, Tammy, Donna, and Janita all were able to remain at peace amid dark times, but it was not just any peace--it was the peace in Yahweh God. Only the peace in God can help anyone get through any stormy nights to the light on the other side.

Author Lynn Baber, who, with her husband, was able to remain at peace as her in-laws passed away. She explains, "We knew God was at work. The process of life and death is His to direct. As in all things, when we consciously work from the position that God is on His Throne, and nothing happens with either His express or permissive will, anything we face becomes manageable. We are never alone."

We can feel at peace anytime because Yahweh is in charge! The peace in God is, therefore, not unlike any peace anyone else or anything could ever offer us. God always desires to bring peace, for "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace." (I Corinthians 14:33, WEB)

But how can we possess the peace in God? We will experience peace in God only when we are justified with Him.

Jesus, the greatest Ambassador of God since he is God's own Son, was sent to Earth two thousand years ago in order to achieve justification for us. Justification is a right standing with God. When we are justified, we will have God as a Friend, and our friendship will bring peace into our lives. It is like any human friendships we have; when we are friends with someone, we will feel at peace when we are around that person. Likewise, when we are friends with God, we will feel at peace in His presence. But to be God's friends and have His peace, we must put our faith in Jesus by loving God and His Son Jesus and by loving one another. Then we will be justified and experience God's peace: "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, KJV)

Before Jesus finished his earthly ministry, he left all of us that special peace in God: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful." (John 14:27, WEB)

And that peace of God, "which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:17, WEB)

When we have God's peace, it should rule in our hearts: "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts..." (Colossians 3:15, WEB)

To remain in God's peace, we should constantly live in harmony with one another: "Be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you." (II Corinthians 13:11, WEB) "Follow peace with all men..." (Hebrews 12:14, KJV)

Do you want to experience invincible peace, peace that will conquer all darkness, peace that will allow you to live in peace even when the physical world is turned upside down? Then embrace Yahweh God and Jesus Christ, and this Father-Son team will give you all the peace you want and need for all eternity!

Pastor and founder of The Spirit of Truth Ministries, David Voyles has well experienced God's peace in his life, thereby he says, "God has plans for every one of us. A person has to trust in the good nature of God and His plans are always better than ours. We knock on doors in faith; believing this, and the right door will open on His perfect timing."

Now is the perfect time for you to feel the peace of God in your life!