Everyone wants peace, but not everyone gets it. Paul says this in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace of God is not based on circumstances, so it doesn’t always make sense to the unsaved mind; Paul says it is a peace that surpasses comprehension. It doesn’t seem reasonable that such peace could exist in the midst of the problems and troubles that people go through. But this is divine, supernatural peace; it cannot be understood — let alone produced — on a human level.
This is the kind of peace that people really want: A peace that brings calm, clarity, and confidence in the midst of the chaos and confusion, the frustrations and irritations, and the difficulties and disappointments. That is exactly the peace that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is peace through which the guilt of the past is forgiven, by which the trials of the present are overcome, and in which our destiny in the future is secured.
The Philippians passage also says that God’s peace will actually “guard” our hearts & minds in Christ Jesus. In other words, when we are in a Spirit-empowered condition of inner peace, we see with greater clarity and wisdom and thus are more alert, aware, and discerning. We are on guard mentally and able to respond to anything the world throws at us. That is vitally important, so I am going to repeat it: When we are in a Spirit-empowered condition of inner peace, we see with greater clarity and wisdom and thus are more alert, aware, and discerning. We are on guard mentally and able to respond to anything the world throws at us.
Peace as a condition of heart & mind means that we operate from clarity, calm, & confidence — not from confusion, frustration & fear. Consider how operating from a condition of peace affects the way you do your job every day, and how you interact with your colleagues. Consider how it affects the way you interact with your spouse and your children.
When you are operating from Spirit-empowered inner peace, your mind is right. You make better decisions. You lead more effectively. You solve more problems. You achieve at a higher level. You listen better and speak more clearly. You are more productive. When the peace of Christ does not occupy your heart & mind, you are more stressed and you operate at a much lower level. You are not nearly as effective at doing your job. This is especially true in response to challenging situations.
It is for this reason that certain professions — special forces in the military, commercial pilots, surgeons, fire fighters and law enforcement — invest a great deal of time training themselves to remain calm & focused when dealing with crisis situations. The effectiveness of their decisions & actions is greatly enhanced when their heart & mind is “at peace” in response to stressful events. They have trained themselves to see events accurately, determine the most effective course of action, respond with discipline, and make adjustments as they proceed.
The following verses speak to how the presence of peace affects the mind/heart.
Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. To experience the power of this peace, you must trust God, set your mind on the things of the Spirit, and allow the truth of God’s word to guard your heart. This also means that you must turn away from and actively reject the impulses and desires of your sin nature. If you focus on circumstances rather than God, you will not experience peace; you will experience anxiety, frustration, and fear.
No God, no peace.
Know God, know peace.
Trust God and do the work.
