We all want inner peace. Normally we associate the presence of peace with the absence of turmoil in our life. Under the right circumstances, we can temporarily experience this natural peace. However, the peace that Jesus offers is a peaceful state in the midst of turmoil.
The apostle Paul writes,
And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, GNT)
This is a supernatural peace — an inner calmness despite the fact we are surrounded by calamity. This peace stems from the confident assurance that the God who created the universe, and who resides within us, is in control of our circumstances and our future.
To experience Christ’s supernatural peace, you need to keep your eyes focused on him and not on the turbulent circumstances around you. Peter was able to walk on the water as long as his gaze was fixed on Jesus. The moment he focused his attention on the stormy waves, he began to sink. He lost his peace because he took his eyes off of Jesus, the peace giver.
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed,
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3, NLT)
No matter how big the storm or how rough the waves may be in your life, God can empower you to face them with his perfect peace that surpasses human understanding.
Jesus told his disciples:
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27, NLT)
Jesus promises his peace to us. The kind of peace Jesus can give us is different from worldly peace. It will withstand the fiercest storms of life.
The supernatural peace only Jesus can give us is about being complete. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom which conveys the sense of wholeness.
God’s supernatural peace comes from the fact that your relationship with God is now whole in Jesus. There is no condemnation in Christ. God is your Father who is for you and not against you. He loves you with unchanging love and has the best for you in mind now and for all eternity. Throughout your life on earth, God is walking with you and training you to become more like Jesus in every way and to be a co-heir with Christ. He knows you completely, and you can know Him more and more forever.
Because of this relationship with God, you are a new creation in Christ. You are not only new but whole in Christ. Even though we will not experience the fullness of our new self until Jesus returns in power and glory, we can certainly begin to live out of our true selves now with the confident assurance that we are complete in Christ.
You are in good fellowship with Him, and He wants you on His team to accomplish His plan not only for humanity but also for all creation.
When you acknowledge and embrace the truth that your new self in Christ is complete, you can experience the supernatural peace Jesus is talking about.
Because the source of this peace is God and in your relationship with Him through Christ, you will not have to lose it but “let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart” (Colossians 3:15).
To have His peace be in control of you, you need to keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the situations around you. Peter was able to walk on the water as long as his gaze was fixed on Jesus. The moment he saw the waves, he began to sink. He lost peace because he took his eyes off Jesus. No matter how rough the waves may be in your life, God can empower you to face them with His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.