October 13, 2026

Peace With God leads to the Peace of God

Romans 5:1–2; John 14:23-27; Philippians 4:4–9

Every person longs for peace, but the peace we often pursue depends on our circumstances. We imagine that if life were less stressful, relationships were easier, or the future felt more certain, we would finally have peace. Jesus offers a peace that remains steady even when life is not. Before we can experience the peace of God, we must first receive the peace with God that we talked about earlier this week. Because of sin, we were separated from God, unable to restore that relationship on our own. Yet through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been reconciled to the Father. Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Rom. 5:1). This peace is God’s gracious gift, secured once and for all through the cross. Because we belong to Christ, we no longer live under shame, but we can walk in the security of His grace. Jesus told His disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (Jn 14:27). Jesus did not promise an easy life. Still, He did promise that through the Holy Spirit, the peace of God is available to everyone who puts their faith in Him.

Paul urges believers to bring every anxiety to God in prayer. As we tell God what we need and thank Him for what He has done, “then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7). God’s peace does not remove our struggles, but it guards our hearts and minds in the midst of them.
N. T. Wright describes this peace as “a settled trust in God’s fatherly care and a steady refusal to give in to anxieties.” It is not pretending everything is fine, but continually turning our fears into prayers and entrusting them to the One who is faithful. The peace of God flows from the assurance that we already belong to Him. As we rest in Christ’s finished work, the Holy Spirit forms within us a quiet confidence that is not shaken by changing circumstances. This peace becomes a powerful witness to a world that desperately needs to have a “settled trust”, pointing others to the only One who can truly satisfy the human heart.

Reflection

What anxiety do I need to surrender to God in prayer today? How would my relationships change if I truly believed I already have peace with God? Where might God be preparing me to become an instrument of His peace?

This prayer is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi; pray it over your life today.

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”