Finding God's Peace: 5 Inspiring Ways
Finding God’s peace often seems elusive.
Fear, worry, and restlessness often overtake our emotions.
In his letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul instructs about finding God’s peace and replacing fear and worry with faith.
“Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT
Paul urges Christians to be joyful, encouraging, and live in harmony then God’s love and peace follow.
Then means afterward.
We often think that finding God’s peace is simultaneous with being a Christian not a collaborative effort.
It’s hard to accept that peace takes work.
Peace is not a magical formula, expression, or feeling that sweeps over us.
Finding peace follows an intentional relationship with God and the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Choosing joy, peace, and harmony helps us encounter the love and peace of God.
Sometimes it is easy to forget the first part of 1 Corinthians 13:11 which gives us instructions. I know I do…especially in difficult circumstances.
Be encouraged, the Bible is full of help and instructions for finding peace.
If you are struggling to find peace, here is a breakdown of Paul’s advice.
5 Ways for Finding God’s Peace
Be joyful
It is difficult to be joyful if we lack peace.
We can fake frenzied joy but true happiness is found in trusting God completely.
The Holy Spirit’s presence helps us walk in indescribable and at times illogical joy.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NLT
Grow in maturity
Growing in spiritual maturity expands your thinking, compassion, and understanding.
Expanded hearts, minds, and souls focus on loving others which ushers in peace,
Encourage each other
Encouraging someone brings joy. It is easy to think we receive more joy when receiving encouragement because we all enjoy being affirmed.
But the real secret to peace is encouraging others, often!
Live in harmony and peace
It often seems impossible to live in harmony and peace.
But choosing to walk away and extend grace, even when not reciprocated or deserved, leads to finding God’s peace.
Choosing harmony is courageous and difficult but always worth it. Loving others fully while being transparent and engaged, is possible when we feel safe, accepted and cared for.
Our spirit matures, endures, and finds peace when displaying Christian characteristics despite circumstances, conflict, or disappointment.
Pray About Everything
Worry is often our default and fear can dominate our emotions and thoughts.
Finding God’s peace is blocked if we are fearful, but remember, God has given you a spirit of faith, not fear.
Fear loses its grip when we learn to connect with Jesus, pray about everything, and surrender control to God.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all 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.”
Philippians 4:7 NLT
A Prayer for Finding God’s Peace
Dear Lord,
I am restless and seeking Your peace. May the Holy Spirit surround me and help me be joyful, encouraging, harmonious, and peaceful.
Jesus, help me identify distractions, bitterness, unforgiveness, or any sin blocking my relationship with you and my peace.
In you Lord there is supernatural peace. Fill and satisfy me with Your presence so the peace that passes all understanding consumes me.
Amen
This article was published as part of the Daily Daybreak Devotions on Crossmap.com.
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the creator and writer for the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple websites and she is the author of, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I Am in Christ” and Life Changing Stories, a devotional collection, available on Amazon.
