The Holy Spirit carries peace with Him everywhere He goes. He never causes confusion or worry. But peace can be hard to find, even as believers. We get so busy, hurried, and worried in this world filled with chaos that peace may seem impossible. And the truth is, true peace is impossible without the Spirit of the God of peace, Yahweh Shalom.
Gideon gave God this name when the angel of the LORD met him hiding, threshing wheat in a wine press. I love how fearful Gideon is one of the cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11 who had witnessed God’s faithfulness. I wonder if he experienced weighty, comforting peace as the angel spoke, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You’re not going to die” (Judges 6:23). What a faithful God. Somebody needs to hear those words today. “Do not be afraid.”
Jesus Promised Peace
These were words Jesus spoke to His disciples as He prepared them for His death. He knew how fearful they would be. He knew the sorrow they’d experience.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:25-27)
As I’m writing this post, I’m beginning to understand how much fear is often the root of our worries. Think about something you’re worried about. Does fear play a role? Fear of not getting the job, losing the job, not being able to afford the mortgage, your kid’ futures . . . we could go on and on with the list of worries, but He is faithful. He is peace. His peace trumps fear. We can’t force it. We can only do two things to experience it: trust Him and position our hearts for His presence.
Trusting God is Essential for Peace
Years ago, I found myself in a doctor’s office receiving news no mother wants to hear. With great gentleness and concern, the doctor informed me something could be wrong with my unborn child. Tests needed to be done that day. I was petrified. My husband had deployed to the Gulf War only a few weeks before. The nurse held my had as they administered the tests. And I prayed.
The next two weeks, waiting on the results, I was a mess. I cried. I prayed. And I cried some more. I was desperate for good news, but I was also desperate to trust God. One day driving to work, I had a wonderful thought, and I said it out loud. “Lord, this baby is going to be a blessing no matter what.”
The instant I prayed that prayer, peace filled my car. It was tangible, thick, and heavy like a down comforter. And I knew at that moment, my baby was going to be okay. A few days later, holding a piece of paper with her chromosomes on it, I had proof of her health. I could also go shopping for pink dresses!
I did not experience that peace until I trusted His goodness. I believe I would’ve still felt peace even if the results had been different. No matter what, that baby was going to be a blessing.
The Position of Humility
We don’t realize it, but pride lurks behind worry. Places of distrust where we believe we can work everything out pridefully thinking we know what’s best. My favorite way to come humbly before God is literally on my knees. When I go to the floor, my face near the carpet, resting on my hands, I experience His presence. I also physically am reminded He is God, and I am not. He and His Son, Jesus sit on the throne. Let this truth wash over you.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV, emphasis mine)
If peace seems difficult to keep, maybe it’s time for a heart search. Oh, beloved! It’s so good! He is so faithful and kind. Paul tells us in Romans 8, “There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” His conviction frees us. As we surrender the throne, that freedom ushers in peace. Holy Spirit peace.
Jesus’s Words Give Peace
When my sister lost her battle with cancer at age 50, I was mad. Another one of my human moments I’m not proud of. But even during my grieving, angry days, He never left me–even though I could not feel His presence or peace. A scripture kept running through my head, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Every time that promise wafted through my mind, I’d stomp my foot, and yell to the heavens, “What do you mean? How have you overcome this world filled with terrible diseases like cancer?”
One day Jesus gently responded, “Read the rest of the scripture.” Tears are threatening as I type this sweet memory. Hopefully nobody in Panera notices. But I digress. I opened my Bible to John 16. This is the verse in its entirety:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, emphasis mine)
And then it hit me. We still experience trouble and pain in this world, but Jesus has told us all we need to encounter peace even in the middle of our pain. His presence is key, but so is His word. (Remember Hebrews 1:3 above.)
That day the Word filled me with peace. He took my shattered heart, and the completed verse put me back together.
Bible Reading Plan on the Fruit of the Spirit- Peace
So many times I only remember a portion of scripture–we all do. I don’t think I’m alone. This is why it’s so important to be in the Word daily. Come study peace with me this month. I believe these verses on peace will bless you. Keep you. Sustain you. Click on the image below to get the free printable.
Join My Communities
The reading plan is just the start my friends. Use each verse to be a jumping off place for your study. Read the verse, read the verses around it, write it in a journal, and let Holy Spirit speak into the deep places of your heart. Let the Word wash over you. And for more teaching, join my faith communities where I dig deeper into the topic of peace this month. Grab your coffee, Bible, and journal, and hop on Instagram Fridays at 9:00 a.m. ET for my live teaching, Faith Friday (@wordsbyandylee). You can also join my Beloved and Becoming community over on YouTube for weekly teachings and shorts.
Prayer for Peace
I’ve written about some really important factors that can help us experience the promised Fruit of the Spirit of peace, but I would be remised, if I didn’t pray. Hold my hands, beloved. I want to pray you up.
“Father, Yahweh Shalom, we love you and praise you. You are so faithful and so good. Help us trust you. Help us let everything go we try to control. Your ways and thoughts are so much better than ours. I pray for the broken hearts today. Give them grace to open your Word and speak through the scriptures on the reading plan. Thank you for Jesus who made peace with you possible. And thank you for your wonderful Holy Spirit. I pray all hearts reading this prayer will encounter your peace today. You peace that’s beyond our understanding. Tangible. Thick. Comforting peace. Amen and Amen.
You are beloved,
Andy