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Response
Philippians 4:7 mentions “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.” Most of Paul’s letters started with the greetings “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace is a state of calmness or serenity of spirit that goes beyond circumstances. Peace is portrayed in Scripture as a gift from God and in harmony with His nature (1 Thessalonians 5:23;Galatians 6:16;1 Peter 1:2;Hebrews 13:20).
If God is peace, then understanding God means being immersed in His peace. The closer we get to Him, the more of His peace we can experience “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”, (James 4:8). God provides us with clear guidance on how to approach Him. Psalm 24:3–4 states, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” However, Scripture also emphasizes that we cannot make ourselves sufficiently clean or pure to deserve the presence of the Lord “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: “, (Romans 3:10,23) “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”, (Romans 3:10,23). So, how can we approach closely enough to encounter His peace? Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my
Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” «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. », (John 14:27). We come into the presence of the Lord through His Son «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). When we allow Jesus’ death and resurrection to purchase our forgiveness from God, we are counted as righteous «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our sins are forgiven because Jesus already paid the price for them. Only then can we have peace with God (Romans 4:5;Romans 5:1;1 John 4:10).
The initial peace that comes from having our consciences wiped clean grows as we get to know God better «let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. », (Hebrews 10:22). Second Peter 1:2 says, “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord” (NLT). When we grow in understanding of the depths and riches of God’s love toward us (Ephesians 3:18-19;Romans 8:38-39), our minds and spirits begin to rest in His power and wisdom. We begin to understand that H
He really will make all things work together for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). We learn that His purposes will be accomplished (Psalm 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 46:9-11).
Certain attitudes can destroy the peace of God. When we equate trust with the assumption that God will give us whatever we want, we set ourselves up for disappointment. The Bible is filled with examples of the opposite happening to God’s people (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Hebrews 11:13; Psalm 10:1). Trust means we have set our hearts to believe God, whatever may happen. When we insist on being in control, we sabotage God’s desire to let us live in peace. When we choose worry rather than faith, we cannot live in peace. Jesus warned us often about fear and worry (Matthew 6:34; Luke 12:29; Philippians 4:6). Worry is the enemy of peace. God invites us to cast our cares upon Him and then let go of them, “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).
Living in peace can be compared to the petals of a flower unfolding in the morning sunlight. The petals of peace in our lives unfold as we learn more about God. We discover that His character is always faithful. We experience His continual goodness. We read more of His promises (Psalm 100:5; Psalm 115:11; Isaiah 26:4).
We learn to revel in His overwhelming love for us (Romans 8:38-39). We refuse to let ever-changing circumstances dictate our level of contentment, instead relying on the unchanging character of God (James 1:17; Malachi 3:6).
When we cultivate a habit of making the Lord our refuge, we start to dwell in the peace of God (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 62:8). Psalm 91:1 reveals the key to abiding in God’s peace: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” That hidden place in our hearts is where we meet with God. By choosing to reside there and seek shelter under His shadow, maintaining constant communion with Him, we can stay serene even when circumstances are challenging. When we learn to call upon Him in times of trouble, we discover that His peace truly surpasses all human understanding «And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.», (Philippians 4:7).
