PEACE AS FRUIT OF HOPE

“And the PEACE of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:7

Along with Joy, scriptures clearly present PEACE as a FRUIT of HOPE: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phi.4: 4-7). Paul the apostle was a Preacher of Faith, Hope, and Love, who demonstrated all three virtues in both words and deeds, and was consequently filled to overflow with Joy and Peace. Here, he encouraged Believers in Philippi to follow suit.

Joy and Peace are fruits of Hope; and like Siamese twins, where one goes, the other escorts. Our meditation text for the month says: “Now may the GOD of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13). Isaiah 55:12a links Joy and Peace: “For you shall go out with JOY, and be led out with PEACE; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Joy and Peace are two of the vital Triplets of the Kingdom: “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit” (Rom.14:17).

In Philippians 4: 4-7, we see Joy, Hope, Peace together. Verse 4 signifies DOUBLE JOY: “REJOICE in the Lord always. Again I will say, REJOICE!” Paul then encouraged Believers to have HOPE in place of anxiety, and to turn to the Lord “IN EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” (v.6). The first fruit of this Hope – confident expectation – would be PEACE – “the PEACE of GOD, which surpasses all understanding” (v.7). This Peace of God is also the Peace of Jesus: “PEACE I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jh.14:27).

This “Peace of God”  is unique from any semblance of peace the world can offer. No one and nothing can reach in and steal the Peace we have in Christ. We are sealed as His. He guards our hearts, the seat of all emotion; and our purpose, authored by God and guaranteed not to fail. We’re assured of Peace secure within; whatever outward troubles may besiege! Believers in Christ need His kind of Peace because no other can fill our longing. The word “anxiety” means to be torn in many directions, leaving a person divided and distracted. Paul was saying we can make a conscious decision not to be that way. True Joy and Peace are found in God through Christ Jesus. His ways are not our ways; hence we must humbly submit our ways for God’s purposes.

Peace is found when we lay everything at the Feet of the Lord and humbly and expectantly watch for Him to move: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.5:1). Every true Believer possesses this Peace that surpasses all understanding, but we become easily distracted to the point we forget about it. The Lord therefore consistently releases Words of Hope to secure His Peace in us: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PAECE. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jh.16:33). Whatever may be the challenge or obstacle in life, there is absolutely no need to lose hope. With Hope in place, the Siamese twins – Joy and Peace – will tag along gracefully!

Everything begins and ends with God. Without Him, there’s no Hope, Joy or Peace: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the GOD of PEACE will be with you” (v.9).