My husband and I went through a situation not of our own making where peace was gone from our home. We both had sick stomachs all the time, and couldn’t sleep. Anything I ate seemed to go right through me, I was so lacking any peace. A shift occurred, and we entered into a season of recovery to restore peace to our home. Maybe you have gone through a season like that – or you are going through something right now where peace needs to be restored to your life and to your home.

During this time, I noticed a book called The Lord Give You Peace by Pastor Terry Smith. I immediately ordered it because I felt like it was a “now” book for me.

Pastor Terry Smith explains that the world’s sense of peace is not the same as the peace God gives, and that the Bible talks not only about peace but shalom, which means peace but it is difficult to find any words in the English language that adequately capture how glorious Shalom is. It is way beyond anything the world experiences as peace. It is God’s way of living and existing where we are at rest in our relationship with Him and all else that concerns out lives.

The road to peace is sometimes a road that differs from what we expect. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I had imagined that things that were affecting our home would just get worse, but during our recovery time, God gave me such peace that it was like an immediate weight lifted off of my shoulders. God orchestrated changes that caused things to fall in place and for us to have peace restored.

If you are going through something like this, I encourage you to allow God to shift things even when at first you do not think that is what you really want…surrender to Him and allow Him to work even in ways you might not think you like at first.

One of the first things we must realize is that…

Biblical peace is the way things are supposed to be.

Pastor Terry Smith says:

“Biblical peace affects every dimension of our spirit, body, and physical place, mind and feelings, and relationship with God, ourselves and others. To dwell in shalom is to enjoy living before God, to enjoy living in one’s physical surroundings, to enjoy living with one’s fellows, to enjoy life with oneself. Put succintly, Shalom is the way things out to be.”

God never intended for us to live with our stomachs churning…unable to sleep, unable to eat, having stress headaches, dreading the day or fill in the blank with whatever you deal with.

The second thing to know is…

God desires peace for us even more than we want it ourselves!

He doesn’t want to make this hard.

He does not make peace difficult or unattainable.

This is something God wants for us, so much.

Before the fall of man, the Garden of Eden was a perfectly peaceful place. Sin disrupted everything, but through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, restoration and peace are possible.

Pastor Terry Smith explains:

“Zeal is what God feels when he sees shalom disrupted in your life in any way. If he sees a relationship broken, a dream shattered, or a prodigal son or daughter far from home. If he sees you hurting from some injustice, suffering from some poor choice, or enduring anxiety-ridden sleepless night after night. When He sees less than the good He planned for you, His zeal is aroused, and He fervently commits to bringing you peace. The desire for things to be made right in our lives is not first about how much you want it; it’s first about how much God wants it for you.”

Faith is the first path to peace.

Faith is the connector.

We have to be people of faith in God and relationship with God in order to have peace.

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1

There is no peace without personally knowing God, through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus is where Shalom begins.

Peace is not an absence of problems – it’s the presence of God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Paul doesn’t tell us to try and fix everything, or come up with the solutions ourselves. He says, pray about everything. Peace also doesn’t come by control – it comes from surrendering to God.

The scripture tell us to do it with thanksgiving.

Why? Because gratitude shifts your focus.

• Gratitude reminds you of God’s faithfulness in the past.
• It keeps your heart soft even when life feels hard.
• It turns your worry list into a worship list.

The scripture goes on to say  — “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds…”

Peace doesn’t come from getting what we want — it comes from being with who we need.

• His peace guards our heart – it watches over us.
• Even when things don’t make sense, His peace still makes sense.
• You can be in a storm and still have peace — because peace isn’t a place, it’s a Person. Jesus IS peace, personified.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives…” John 14:27

You don’t have to chase peace…peace is something you RECEIVE. You don’t have to earn peace – it’s a gift from God.

Is there something stealing your peace right now?

Are you seeking peace apart from God?

Today I speak Psalm 46:10 over you – “Be still and know that I am God.”

I pray for peace to be restored to you today, or for you to have it for the first time.