Romans 5:1

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In the Bible, joy and peace often go together. King Solomon wrote, “Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy” (Proverbs 12:20). Paul wrote, “... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” (Galations 5:22). Joy and peace are by-products of a life filled with Christ but in our culture, we often misunderstand the real power of those two little words. 

In our society we use the word “peace” to describe a time without war or an inner sense of calm, but in the Bible peace means more than that. The Hebrew word for “peace” is “shalom,” which means wholeness or well-being. Likewise the Bible definition of “joy” goes beyond our cultural meaning, which is something like “happiness.” Happiness depends on circumstances, but when the Bible describes “joy,” it defines a state of well-being where spiritual truth and eternal perspective supersede earthly conditions. This causes the one who is joyful to live above the highs and lows of life in a fallen world. For instance Paul and Silas praised God while they were imprisoned and being beaten! Now that is JOY!

So how do I grab hold of joy and peace? According to Romans 5:1, peace comes from being justified with God. Because Jesus is both my Savior and my Lord, I have peace with God – a peace that surpasses all understanding. That peace leads to joy, and the combination of joy and peace brings hope. (Romans 15:13).

There is no greater testimony for God – no greater witness in our lives than hope, brought on by the peace and joy of God. 

Look again at Romans 15:13. Paul wrote that trust leads to peace, which leads to joy, which leads to hope. That is true in an eternal sense, and it is also true in the specific areas of your life. What places do you need to learn to trust God, so that you can finally find peace, joy, and hope?

What are some things that rob our peace?