But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Spirit Fruit: Peace

There is a lot of worry in the world. Concerns over how to pay the bills, prepare for the future, face health worries, and a host of nagging problems that sap the strength out of the soul. The world offers many answers to worry, but they never satisfy. Those who seek peace in the bottle open their lives to greater troubles. People who drown themselves in wealth seeking happiness never find the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. Trying to prolong life and regain youth is a futile attempt as aging keeps marching on. What is greatly lacking in the lives of many is the feeling of peace.

Arthur Somers Roche said worry is “A thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” Sadly, the lifestyles of most people seldom experience the joy of a peaceful mind and contented heart. A materialistic world propagates the fears and worries of the heart, keeping peace far away. One of the joys of being a child of God is to find peace that passes all understanding and can guard the heart against the worries of life. The peace found in the fruit of the Spirit is the revitalizing experience of hope, love, and happiness. Jesus taught in the mountain sermon not to be anxious for life. A heart absent of peace will be filled with hatred and strife. Adam Clarke writes about peace, “The calm, quiet, and order, which take place in the justified soul, instead of the doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings, which every true penitent less or more feels, and must feel till the assurance of pardon brings peace and satisfaction to the mind. Peace is the first sensible fruit of the pardon of sin.”

The peace found in the fruit of the Spirit gives direction to life. Instead of being consumed with the worries of life and the affairs of the world, a peaceful heart trusts in the will of the Father. Jesus said the birds do not sow seed nor reap nor gather into barns because the Father cares for them. Birds do not have worry lines on their brow. They are at peace as they depend on their Creator to care for them. Babies are happy and at peace, because they are fully trusting and filled with love as their parents care for them. The child of God must have the heart of a child to trust in the Lord, depend on His care, and trust in His judgment. That is when peace will rule the heart.

A heart that is not at peace is a heart that is not with God. The Lord does not promise to take the pain and suffering away but provides comfort to enjoy the peace of God. Jesus was asleep in the boat during a storm because He had peace with His Father. Peter had to be awakened by an angel when he was thrown into prison with a death sentence hanging over him because the apostle had peace with God. Many Christians faced death before the fires of Nero through the peace they had with their salvation. The fruit of the Spirit fortifies the human spirit with the blessings of love, joy, and peace that will give courage in the face of trials and hope in the time of sorrow. There is no peace as great as the tender hand of the Heavenly Father embracing His child, protecting them, and guiding them. True peace can only come from the fruit of the Spirit.