How can I experience peace?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

True peace isn’t found by escaping life’s chaos but by anchoring ourselves in God, who is greater than every storm and faithfully present in the middle of it (Exodus 14:13–14; Daniel 6:22; Psalm 91:1). Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as a refuge and a shepherd, leading His people into rest and safety even in seemingly impossible situations (Psalm 23; Exodus 14:21). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, calls us to abide in Him, promising that real peace is found in trusting Him (John 15:4–5; John 16:33; Isaiah 9:6). This peace can withstand all circumstances because it flows from a relationship with God Himself, who is our peace (Judges 6:24). The Holy Spirit also produces peace within us as we walk closely with Him (Galatians 5:22–23). Even in overwhelming trials, God’s presence brings protection, deliverance, and rest, just as He did for Shadrach, Daniel, and others who trusted Him (Daniel 3:16; Daniel 6:22). Peace is found as we stop striving to carry life on our own and instead dwell in Him, trusting Him as our refuge and rest (Psalm 91:1; Matthew 11:28–30).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• We can experience God's peace when we understand His character, trusting that He is good and He takes care of His own. A powerful example of God’s peace breaking through the midst of chaos is when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh's approaching chariots and the Red Sea. Moses told the people: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." God then miraculously split the Red Sea so they could safely escape their enemies (Exodus 14:21).
• In Judges 6:24, the judge of the Israelites at the time, Gideon, set up an altar and named it “God is Peace.” Indeed, God is our source of peace—without Him, we will never experience true peace.
• One of the most beautiful depictions of an abiding relationship with God is found in Psalm 23. In this Psalm, David describes God as a good shepherd, leading him into places of restoration and peace. We, too, can experience this type of relationship with God.
• Psalm 91:1 reveals the core heart posture needed for us to experience God’s peace: “He that 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.” Abiding in and trusting in God are foundational to experiencing the peace of God.
• God’s presence can bring peace even in the most terrifying of moments. For Shadrach, Meeshach, and Abendago, God provided supernatural protection for them in the midst of literal flames (Daniel 6:22). When we are in precarious situations, we can look back to biblical accounts like this one, reminding ourselves that God’s presence is with His children at all times.
• God can bring about a peaceful result even when situations are chaotic and stressful. A good example is when Daniel was left for dead in a lion’s den, but God shut the lions' mouths so that he was spared from harm (Daniel 6:22). When we are in the midst of a trial like Daniel, we can pray for God to bring us peace and deliver us, trusting that He will fulfill our request if it is in His will to do so.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus is the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6). To experience His peace, we must be in an abiding relationship with Him (John 15:4-5).
• Galatians 5:22-23 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” As a believer, the Holy Spirit lives inside us and guides us in how we should live. Since peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we have access to experiencing this peace every day of our lives.
• In John 16:33, Jesus tells His disciples that in Him they can experience peace, even when they encounter the worst of trials. We can do the same.
• The more we understand God and the fullness of who He is (2 Peter 1:2), the more we can experience His peace.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It’s easy to get caught up in the anxieties of life and lose sight of the source of our peace—God Himself. As believers, we have access to experiencing peace at all times because we are in an abiding relationship with Jesus. We can reach out to Him at all times in prayer, and even in our most anxious moments when we can’t find words to speak, the Holy Spirit will intercede to God on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).

We are all like helpless sheep. We are easily vulnerable to attack, but in God's presence, we are safe As we abide in Him, we can be led to places of rest (Psalm 23). We should, therefore, draw near to God in every moment instead of seeking peace in places that cannot really satisfy (James 4:8). How do we do this? We hold onto God's Word. We pray continually. We remain close to Him. We live in community with believers who will encourage us and remind us of who God is.

We cannot experience peace out of our own striving. Instead, we gain peace from the Prince of Peace Himself who desires to carry our burdens of life with us and who calls to us: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 28-30).

UNDERSTAND

• We can only experience peace through a relationship with God.
• Putting our trust in God instead of ourselves is important if we desire to experience more peace in our life.
• God is the Good Shepherd who desires to lead us to places of rest, not stress.

REFLECT

• When anxiety or chaos rises in your life, where do you turn to for peace?
• How are you seeking to abide in Christ, and where might God be inviting you to draw closer to Him to experience peace?
• What truths about who God is helps you to seek His peace?

ENGAGE

• What does it mean to experience peace and what does it not mean?
• What is connection between trusting God and experiencing His peace, and how is this seen consistently throughout both the Old and New Testaments?
• When daily worries flood their minds, which verses can Christians turn to that speak the truth and bring peace to their circumstances?