What’s the one thing you need most in your life right now? Less stress? Fewer fears? A clearer mind? A sense of security?
I keep telling myself, if I had all of the above, I would finally have what I want most: peace. No fretful thoughts, no nagging worries.
Now God is showing me how this really works.
When His peace flows through us, our stress eases, our fears fade, our minds clear, and our sense of security becomes firmly rooted in Him.
So, peace is where we start, not where we land.
Peace has one Source: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Peace is a gift, pure and simple, placed in our hands by a loving Savior, who assures us it’s “the kind of peace that only I can give” (CEV).
The word in Greek—eiréné—means “peace, quietness, rest.” Just the sound of those words can calm our anxious hearts. Like taking a long, deep breath, then slowly exhaling. It reflects the Hebrew word, shalom, a common farewell in Israel.
Peace. Quietness. Rest. Shalom.
Guess what else eiréné means? “One, wholeness.” It’s everything that truly matters, all joined together.
Apart from God? No peace.
With God? Peace like a river.
Even in the midst of heartache and loss? Yes, especially then. Consider the story of Horatio Spafford, who wrote It Is Well with My Soul.
“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Transcend means we don’t get it and won’t get it. It’s far above our comprehension and way beyond our intellectual reach.
This is a good thing. If we could manufacture peace on our own, we might not turn to God. Instead, we need Him every hour.
Our Facebook sisters know this:
- “I would be a total wreck without His peace.”—Nikol
- “The challenges in my life are beyond my own strength to endure. His peace has been a lifesaver in more ways than one.”—Cristel
- “I love everything about Him, but especially His peace that He so freely gives, and I so desperately need.”—Joyce
- “In this life, we have many stresses, but God’s peace is ours, always.”—Brenda
In the beautiful words of Jesus, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Take heart, beloved. Trouble is guaranteed. So is His peace. “United with me, you may have shalom (CJB).
Lord, help us rest in Your peace. Remind us that it’s not a place, not an idea, not a state of mind. It’s a Person. It’s You, Lord, standing before, behind, and beside us. You guard our hearts. You calm our fears. You make us whole in You. Shalom.
You’ll find a link below to Share Your Thoughts about how you’ve personally experienced God’s peace. Thanks for encouraging us all.
Your sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs
Just as I opened up your study today, “It Is Well With My Soul” was playing on the stereo. Perfect timing! And just what I needed today!
Your words are taking me back to a great Elisabeth Elliot quote (which I will not get exactly right!): The answer to true peace is Christ in me, not me in another set of circumstances. When I begin feeling discontented and restless, I remember this wisdom.
This reminds me of the days just after my daughter was born. Without God’s peace, I would have been so discouraged. My child was born sick and God’s peace allowed me to have the assurance that everything would be fine. There was no question in my mind or heart that I would bring her home. We did and we have had some issues as a result but nothing God has not been able to handle.
Needed that word of peace today….and every day actually. Anxiety about stuff and people gets way too much at times. How we humans
want to be the solvers of all problems…..and have everyone we love
be happy and healthy and know the Lord in a personal way.
His peace is always there for us to access. Praying that I will do that
more often………..and thank Him for this precious gift. It is so obvious
that this tired, miserable, sin-sick world (of which we are a part, cannot
offer any kind of lasting peace. Peace to you this day, Liz.
Thankfully there has been numerous times of God’s Peace upon me.
My husband works shifts, and there are times where he is gone all night. Unfortunately there had been times where fear came, what was that noise? What could happen? I have been at places of worry and anxiety. Then before I knew it, songs would well up in my soul, or even a timely Word from God would become loud within my head and I would repent for listening to any fear and with rejoicing, thanksgiving, praise & worship – soon I was caught up in Peace, Joy and free from the lies and mistrust that fear tried to bring.
God is Faithful in releasing me and providing to me P E A C E!!!
I now with prayer and determination, I do not give in to the fear on the nights without my husband. I seek God before I go to bed and rest on Him to provide me a good night’s sleep.
Any time I am in need, I Run to The Lord and rest in His Word!
I NEEDED THIS TODAY! I have been wrestling with many things and this is a perfect reminder of God’s peace!
“It Is Well With My Soul” has always been my “go to” song – in all circumstances. It, and the very peace of Christ it refers to, are especially dear to me right now as I deal with the death (from pancreatic cancer) of my best friend, soulmate, love of my life. He passed into the presence of our precious Lord & Savior the day after Christmas.
This was one of the songs we sang in church last night.
Thanks for that beautiful reminder!
Thank you, Liz, for speaking these words over us! I have read these verses slowly and just drank in their meaning. Medicine for my soul today! Thank you, Lord for peace!
Hey chicks! Peace that goes beyond understanding! I don’t know why or how but when I was last faced with a hard situation and didn’t know what I was going to do, I prayed and just felt peace. This knowing that I know that I know feeling. I was doing the right thing, I made the right decision. And you know what? It was the right decision. Everything is working out, things are going well.
God’s peace has gotten me through everything from major like my son being born with a heart condition to minor like arguing with my husband. Only by His peace do I make it through each day.
Thank you Liz, My back has been acting up, I’m in severe pain. taking pills and not thinking straight. I flew in from FL to my hometown in MI and left my Kindle on the plane. I’m trusting God to heal me and that the airlines will locate my Kindle (I had several of your books on it) Although this saddens me, I have the peace of the Lord. I can’t thank Him enough. God bless your ministry.
Peace…In my prayers for others, I’ve always prayed that God would give them peace in their situations, trials…I was thinking about my prayers the other day, and was wondering about what “this peace”meant in my prayers…you’ve made it clearer to me now…you last paragraph sums it up…that those I pray for will rest in God’s peace, that He is beside them, before them, standing with them in their situations.
I so agree with others here, that peace, is the one thing we really need! If I have peace, I can handle the hard things.
I have been in the midst of something hard and anxiety is starting to come…and I have whispered a prayer to the Lord,’ I need your peace’. I have instantly felt His presence and the peace falls on me. Such a miracle only God perform!
Thank you for this Liz!
Like my granddaughter would say,”You rock!” 🙂
Peace is beautiful gift each morning when we place God first
Open the bible and believe~! Amen
Peace like a river flowing through me, ever present, surrounding me. I love the rest and quiet that comes with true peace. Thank you for the reminder today to keep eyes on Jesus, my peace, and not the circumstances that threaten to steal that peace.
The older i have been given, the more appreciative and aware i am of how very much i need Him. Shalom
Great stuff, Liz. Thank you. You reminded me of someone who once said, in regard to the Lord being peace…Without God, there is no peace, it doesn’t exist. xxx
Peace, peace God’s peace,… Yes this is where to start. The one who spoke to the storm, and it obeyed. He is my peace. At the funeral of the mother of a 19 and 13 year old left alone at the grave side, he is our peace.
Thanks Liz for your clarity that peace is a Person and not a state of mind or an idea. Have to wrap this around my heart so that I will always remember that He is with me.
I am such a high anxiety stress type of personality that if I didn’t have God’s peace, His Word to rely on I honestly don’t know where I’d be. He has brought me through many a storm and I know He will never fail me…that’s peace.
Dearest Liz,
This is just what I needed to wake up to this morning- a gentle reminder of the peace of Christ- who is ever present and whispers calm, quiet, rest,… amidst the storm.
Thank you Liz – God’s peace. When I put God first I have peace. We often think we can forge ahead and handle things the way we want and forget that God is in control and is the one who gives us peace when we lean on him.
God is good!
In me I would find no peace! I need to turn to Jesus every time. And it is definitely as it says: “Peace that transcends all understanding”. I cannot grasp it. It is a gift that Jesus gives me and it “guards” my heart like a soldier on duty guards.
Oh, Lord Jesus I believe in You we have a peace that passes all understanding! Help us to see and receive!
Love and shalom Jannie
I am facilitating a ladies recovery group and it is the first time I have ever had this kind of responsibility.
I came home today and was heavy hearted about something so I said Lord I really need to hear from you, and I told him how I was thinking.
I began to read the book I am currently reading by author Preston Gillham, and immediately He began to speak to me of the very thing I had needed to hear from him about. It brought the peace to me I needed and joy as well. What a blessing.
Praising God! 🙂
It is well with my soul was the song God gave to me the week my son died. Every morning I would wake up with that song going through my mind. My God is kind & gentle & merciful.
Liz Curtis Higgs is a true lady of God and an outstanding speaker.
I would encourage any of you ladies to enjoy the insightful and witty wisdom of this great lady. She has it together and knows where to scratch the itch that bothers you.
Join her team and read her books.
You will be better for it.
Randy
I received great peace from God during a very difficult time when my older sister was very ill and her daughter (who was supposed to be her caregiver) stole money from her and verbally abused her and did not take care of her needs. We attempted to get adult protective services involved but they could not do much because my sister would not admit to the abuse and stealing. She loved her daughter so much and didn’t want to loose her, so she put up with it. As her sister, this was very very difficult for me to accept. My other sisters and I tried to convince her to move in with me. We went back and forth with her about it for several days. One day (the first time this had happened) God lead me to scripture. I didn’t listen at first, but 1 Corinthians kept coming to my mind for two days. Finally, I got out my bible and started reading 1 Corinthians, I didn’t know what passage he was leading me to yet, I started reading from the beginning and I knew that God would let me know when I was to the scripture He had been leading me to. When I reached 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 I knew I was where He had lead me. I read it over and over. Then the next day after we had thought we had convinced by sister to move in with me she changed her mind and refused. I was so distraught I could only cry and cry out to God. In that time of sorrow He reminded me of the verse He had lead me to the day before. I went back to my bible and reread it over and over and realized He was letting me know that His love would cover her and to give my concern for my sister over to Him. I felt God’s peace settle over me at that moment.
Thank you once again!
It’s a bit stormy in this heart of mine today and I just ‘needed’ to go on your website and came across this. We all know it is no coincidence and I marvel at how our Father works through you time and time again.
Thank you for your obedience to His call and for you wonderfully using the words in your heart to encourage others. You are a gem made in His light and love.
I don’t know you but I love you, does that make sense?
Thank you beautiful woman of God. This piece of peace is so spot on for now and so encouraging.
Love from beautiful Scotland
Just found you today Liz, on Twitter. God lead me right to you. Amazing how He works. My heart is anxious my daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia today, meanwhile I’m suffering a kidney issue. Life gets icky. But I am thankful I can run to my savior.
My son was in a car accident last night. He’s fine (thanks to God!), but his car was totalled. When I told my other boys about it, they were all worried about what he was going to do about a vehicle. I reminded them that God allowed this to happen for a reason & that along with Him, we would get through this challenge. I can’t believe the peace I feel, knowing that somehow it will be alright. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift of peace!
Not every river I have ever seen is peaceful, nor can every part of my life, past or present be described as peaceful; however, Jesus calmed the sea, and He can turn the rushing white water of my life into a trickling stream. Peace can be heard through the noise, over the noise, and because of the noise when I lean my ear to Him. He will hold my head above the waters however they rise to devour me.
Having lost my son to suicide…as horrible and devastating as it was, Jesus calmed even those tumultuous waters. 2 years later, I feel peace in Him. Living through such a time has strengthened my faith that I can live through anything with Jesus by my side.