As believers in Jesus Christ, the first thing we must know is that we have peace, not that we will have it or that peace will come in the future. We have peace in this present time, in adversities, difficulties of life, problems, in all this we have peace in Christ Jesus. Our Lord said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. (John 14:27).
This truth is essential for the Christian life. The peace that Christ gives does not depend on external circumstances, material stability, or the absence of problems. It is a peace that is born from a restored relationship with God, a peace that anchors the soul even when everything around us seems to be collapsing. The world offers a fragile and temporary peace, one that disappears when difficulties arise, but the peace of Christ remains firm and constant.
We have as a great example the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles, who knew how to rejoice and have peace in the midst of persecution and in the midst of oppression.
These men and women of God did not live easy lives. Many were rejected, mocked, imprisoned, and even killed for obeying the Lord. However, they understood that God’s promises were greater than their present sufferings. Their peace was not rooted in comfort, but in obedience and trust in God’s sovereignty.
The apostle Paul is an enormous example for himself, since this man knew what it is to suffer for the cause of Christ. To go from being a Pharisee who had a determined life, to being a servant of Christ who often lacked bread, who was often imprisoned and had to suffer the mistreatment and abandonment of many.
Paul lost prestige, security, and earthly recognition, yet he gained something infinitely greater: an intimate relationship with Christ. His life teaches us that peace is not the absence of pain, but the presence of God in the midst of pain. Paul learned to depend completely on the Lord, and that dependency produced spiritual strength and inner peace.
Paul, being imprisoned said:
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
O beloved brothers, this man being imprisoned, in great need, in the midst of the storm told the Philippians to rejoice. Dear brother, rejoice in your worst trial, give glory to God, because He has given us His peace and we are highly privileged that in this battle we are not alone, but that the Captain who is Jesus goes to the front.
Rejoicing in the Lord does not mean denying reality or ignoring pain. It means choosing to trust God above circumstances. It means lifting our eyes beyond what we see and placing our hope in what God has promised. When we rejoice in Him, our hearts are strengthened and our faith is renewed.
Paul continues saying:
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Jesus says that He has given us peace, and now Paul tells the Philippians that they should not be anxious or worried about anything, but that they should take all their petitions before the Almighty God in prayer. Sometimes we forget that we have a great God and we do not turn to Him, when God is supposed to be our only option. Beloved brother, God is never busy to not to listen to us, He is always present, no matter how high and overwhelming the storm is.
Prayer is the door through which peace enters our hearts. When we pray with gratitude, even in the midst of trials, we acknowledge that God remains in control. This attitude transforms anxiety into trust and fear into confidence.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding”. That peace surpasses all understanding because nobody can understand how in the midst of adversity we can be calm, and yes, we can be calm because we know that God keeps our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Simply in Him we are safe.
This divine peace guards our inner life. It protects our minds from despair and our hearts from discouragement. Even when answers do not come immediately, we rest in the certainty that God is faithful. In Christ, we are secure, sustained, and surrounded by a peace that the world can neither give nor take away.