God's Peace Transcends All Understanding

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

It’s easy for us to get this idea in our minds about peace: “We will be at peace when everything is going good. When all the conflicts are resolved, when all the bills are paid, when our bodies are healthy and strong, and when people are happy with us, then we will be at peace.” That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Here’s the problem: Does that ever happen? No! Sometimes we get close—tantalizingly close—to having peace. “If we can just make it through this, then we’ll be okay.” Or, “If we can just avoid that, then we’ll be at peace.” Isn’t that how life goes? We always feel like we’re so close to having true peace, and yet we never quite achieve it. Our hearts are never perfectly at peace.

Do you know why? It’s because that’s not where peace comes from. Where does real peace come from? Jesus. Jesus died for your sins. They are already forgiven, whether other people forgive you or not. Jesus rose to give you eternal life. It’s yours, whether your body heals or not. Your loving Father has perfectly planned out every day of your life. You are forgiven. You are saved. You are loved by Jesus. What can change that? Nothing! Who can separate you from the love of Jesus? No one!

That’s why Paul writes, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace transcends all understanding. It doesn’t make sense. You can have the whole world and not have peace. We see that all the time in the lives of the rich and famous. Or you can have nothing but still have peace. We see that all the time as we watch brothers and sisters in Christ face the trials of this world with the peace that can only come from Jesus.

Maybe you look at your life today, and you think, “There’s no way I can be at peace. Look at how everything is going wrong!” When that’s the case, remember this: The peace of God “transcends all understanding.” The more you hear God’s Word, the more your heart will learn to trust in God’s promises. What will be the result? More peace—true peace that transcends all understanding.

Dear Jesus, I see so many reasons to not have peace today. Yet, you promise that true peace doesn’t come from the world. It comes only from you. Grant my heart your peace that transcends all understanding. Amen.

Pastor Nathan