Applying God’s Word: Practical Steps to Inner Peace

Jesus offers more than hope.

Unlike the peace the world offers, His peace depends solely upon Himself—the unchanging, eternal, all-powerful one. His peace is not dependent on outward circumstances. The world delivers circumstantial peace, which is based on needs being met or on good circumstances surrounding us in our lives. For instance, ministers experience circumstantial peace when their churches are doing well, their attendance is up, their Bible schools are well-funded, and their incomes are adequate. Another example of circumstantial peace is when we have lots of money in the bank or when we get good medical reports from the doctors.

Circumstantial peace is fleeting or temporary because it is shattered by the intrusion of the unknown or unwanted. For instance, someone might ask for prayer for peace and receive it, but that peaceful feeling will only last a short period of time if that person tries to find it on a circumstantial level. In other words, one can “feel” the peace of God and receive it as long as one’s circumstances look okay.

The peace of Jesus is not based on circumstances or feelings; it’s based on His person, character, and nature—the eternal, unchanging, trustworthy, faithful, and all-powerful Son of God. In the midst of fiery trials, He tells us not to let our hearts be troubled. His peace is a Christ-centered serenity that is established upon the absolutes of His Word.

In the world we will always have trouble and sometimes distressing, chaotic, and uncontrollable circumstances. But we cannot let our peace depend on our circumstances. It must depend solely on the presence of God. Jesus said it was good that He would go away because another comforter would come in His place. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, advocate, and standby. He is God’s agent for maintaining peace in our lives. We can walk in peace and maintain it in our lives when we choose to dwell on the promises of God rather than our circumstances.

When fear, anxiety, doubt, or unbelief attacks us, we must make the decision either to practice the absence or presence of God in our lives. I know it is possible to experience His peace every day regardless of circumstances or feelings because I practice God’s presence and peace every day.

As parents of three children, my husband and I learned to rely on the Lord as we reared them, particularly when they became teenagers, started driving, and could go out on their own. One night one of our children missed curfew. In those days since we didn’t have cell phones, we couldn’t call or text to find out what was going on. By the time 30 to 40 minutes had passed, Buddy and I were getting anxious and upset.

I had all these thoughts about what could have happened to my child running through my mind and trying to produce fear, worry, and anger. The moment I realized that my emotions were trying to take over, I started praying in the Spirit. I began refusing those wrong thoughts and said to the Lord, You know where my child is. You know what’s going on. I trust You, and I ask You to help me. I started praising and thanking Him for His protection and peace. I began quoting the promises from His Word concerning my children. The moment I did that, His peace just rose up on the inside of me and came out of me and over me, as if someone had wrapped me in a warm blanket. I was aware of His presence and peace. My emotions immediately calmed, and I could think clearly. As Buddy prayed in the Spirit, the same thing happened to him, and he became peaceful.

First, my husband and I prayed in the Spirit so that we could restore His peace to our minds and emotions. Once we were calm and peaceful, we could pray some more and receive instruction on how to handle the situation when our child finally arrived home.

As we prayed, in this time in peace the Lord showed my husband exactly what had been going on, and He assured us that our child would be home soon. Not long after that, we heard the outside door open. The child was trying to enter the house quietly, hoping we were asleep. That hope was dashed as Buddy opened our bedroom door and said, “You need to come in here, please.”

Buddy calmly said, “I can see that you are trying to think up something. Before you lie, let me tell you where you were, what you were doing, and why you are late.”

Because my husband and I did not allow our emotions (the fleshly, carnal man) to rule, we were able to handle the situation and the necessary discipline by the wisdom of God, which produced peace in our home and in our children’s lives. Had we allowed our emotions to rule, which is very easy for parents to do, we could have made the situation worse and harmed our relationship with our child and possibly the child’s relationship with the Lord.

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11 NLT).

The next morning, we sat down with all our children, reviewed the situation, and explained how we had prayed and trusted in the Lord. That circumstance became a testimony to our children of God’s love, care, and capabilities. They realized that the Holy Ghost would “tell on them.” Because Buddy and I chose to follow after peace, we prayed and trusted God. Then we chose to obey His instructions.

The choices we make will decide whether or not we have peace. Will we receive this gift from God and fight to maintain it, or will we become victims of circumstance?

As we walk in the presence and promises of Jesus, His peace permanently abides in us. He is our quietness, rest, and tranquility of heart and mind. Jesus’ peace is not the absence of trouble. His peace is His presence in the midst of turmoil and trouble when our circumstances, minds, or lives seem out of control.

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 AMPC).

Notice that peace is the first word that Jesus says in this verse and it’s also the subject of the sentence. Therefore, He is placing the emphasis on peace. If we read this in context, we realize that Jesus is preparing His disciples for what is yet to come: His betrayal and crucifixion. He wanted to assure His disciples that in the midst of trials they could have peace.

Also, notice one other thing Jesus told them in that verse: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus was warning them to refuse the anxiety and fear. Maintaining His peace was their responsibility, even in the midst of trouble.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). The New Revised Standard Version translates that passage, “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace, in peace because they trust in you.” One commentary explained Isaiah 26:3 this way, “In the midst of difficulties and stress, God will keep those in true peace and spiritual well-being whose minds (including thoughts, impulses, and tendencies) are unshakeable and undeviating because they trust in God.” The World Bible Commentary writes Isaiah 26:3 this way: “from a dependent attitude You form peace, peace when one’s confidence (is) in You (God).”

To walk in Jesus’ peace requires us to focus all of our thoughts, impulses, and tendencies on Him. We have to be totally dependent on Him. A dependent attitude speaks of a willing and teachable heart, not a willful or rebellious one. It is a prerequisite for someone who is trusting God. If we are going to trust God, we have to depend on Him. If we are going to depend on God, we have to trust Him. Trust and dependence are the key ingredients to peace.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). The Rotherham Bible translates that verse this way: “And, the peace of God, which riseth above every mind,” and another translation (TCNT) reads, “which surpasses every human conception.” The God to whom we pray and offer thanksgiving, whose ways are higher than ours, is totally trustworthy. His peace accompanies our prayers and comes because prayer is an expression of trust. We do not need to have life all figured out in order to trust Him. We trust Him because we can’t figure things out and He’s the only one who has perfect knowledge. We must willingly surrender everything to Him and refuse to pick up what we have turned over to Him. Then the peace of God will work in our lives.

Sustaining peace is based on a consistent hope in and understanding of the promises of God. When we set our eyes on other things, we lose focus, hope, and peace. The apostle Paul told the Colossians, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2 NKJV). I love how The Message translates that verse: “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” We are not to ignore circumstances and pretend they don’t exist. Instead, we are to see them from Jesus’ point of view.

Our job is to focus on Jesus, the Living Word of God, and point others to Him. Circumstances are temporal; they are subject to change at any moment. Only God and His Word are eternal and unchanging. We cannot depend on circumstances to give us lasting peace.

Sustaining peace can only be found in the presence of the eternal, unchanging God Almighty. He wants us to have it.