The apostle Paul tells us that the peace of God surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:7). In other words, this peace is not some psychological mechanism, but rather supernaturally comes from God. It is not some Eastern meditation ritual where one can rid all of the anxiety from their mind. As the world tries to manufacture God’s peace, the result is a profound absence of peace. But the peace that comes from God is true and lasting for the one who seeks and trusts Him.

One of the fruits of the Spirit is peace, as the apostle Paul described: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus tells us what peace means when He miraculously stopped the storm on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples; And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39). Jesus brought peace to the raging waters. 

John MacArthur, who recently finished his long ministry and went home to be with the Lord, wrote that this peace is an “inner calm or tranquility that is promised to the believer who has a thankful attitude based on unwavering confidence that God is able and willing to do what is best for his children…” (Romans 8:28) “God’s peace guards believers from anxiety, doubt, fear, and distress.” 

In another place, he describes it as “the inner calm that results from confidence in one’s saving relationship with Christ. Like joy, peace is not related to one’s circumstances.” What’s remarkable about the Lord’s peace, as MacArthur noted, is that this inner calm is something that a believer can have at any time, even in the most difficult circumstances. Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33), but when that trouble comes, incredibly, we have access to the Lord’s peace.

The Peace Promised to His People

The writers of Scripture and Jesus himself described this peace many times. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the people of Israel the song that will be sung in the future in the land of Judah. A portion of this song describes the Lord’s precious peace: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26:3-4). David also sang and played a song concerning the Lord’s peace: Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22). 

Jesus described this peace in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34) when he addressed the common human problem of anxiety.

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