Everybody longs for a life of peace and we seek to find places where we can experience it. Maybe it’s found atop the mountain or while laying on the beach with the rhythmic sound of waves washing against the shore? Wherever it is, we want to find that quiet place where we can feel like all is well. But here’s the challenge: we may find moments of peace but we live in a world full of chaos. We are faced with challenges at home, at work, in our relationships, and within ourselves. We feel anxious, worried, burdened, and tired. Peace is elusive.
God offers us peace – his peace. He doesn’t promise that we’ll never experience storms in our lives, but he does promise to give us peace to get through them.
Peace Is an Inward Confidence That Comes from Knowing That God Is with Us
God’s peace is of a different quality than “peace” as we often think of it. God’s peace is a calmness that threaded through our lives because we know we are safely in the hands of a loving father. Peace is about trusting that God will walk with us no matter the struggle or situation, giving us the support, wisdom, and opportunities we need to press on.
The Benefits of the Fruit of Peace in Our Lives
- God’s peace means we can be content no matter the circumstance (Philippians 4:7).
- God’s peace calms our fears (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- God’s peace means we can be peacemakers (Colossians 3:15).
God’s peace comes from knowing that God is in control even though our lives feel chaotic.
The Fruit of Patience Naturally Flows from a Heart of Peace
Think about how patience works in our lives, or better yet, why we grow impatient. Impatience often comes from having a lack of peace about a situation. We get frustrated when the answers don’t come in the timing we prefer, or the resolution we’re looking for doesn’t play out they way we planned. We begin to doubt God. This doubt and lack of trust breeds contempt and anger in our hearts, which leads to impatience.
Proverbs 14:29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
If we allow God’s peace to reign in our hearts and minds, we will find the ability to have self-restraint and patience. We won’t feel the need to take matters into our own hands or worry about the “what if’s” of life. We will learn to wait on God and let him guide us along the path.
Exodus 14:14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Remember, the fruit of patience that comes from the Spirit is of a different quality than worldly patience. Think about God’s character and how patient he has been with us. You don’t have to read far into the Old Testament to see how many times God’s people failed and turned from him to worship idols. God forgave them and wait patiently for them to realize their mistakes. When they turned back to him, he blessed and restored them.
With the Spirit’s help, we can be peaceful and patient people who don’t feel the need to take control of every situation. Wait on God and his timing. Know he will come through for you.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Describe your most peaceful place. Why does that setting make you feel relaxed and calm?
- Describe a situation where you have felt the opposite of peace. What made that situation so scary or uncomfortable?
- How is God’s peace different from our idea of peace? Describe a time that you experienced God’s peace in the midst of a stressful time.
- Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does it took like to trust in the Lord with all our hearts? Why is it dangerous to trust in our own understanding?
- In your opinion, how are peace and patience related? Explain.
- What are some situations that you grow impatient over? How can understanding God’s peace help you to better deal with impatience?
- Read 2 Peter 3:9. How has God changed and grown you after having gone through difficulties? Why is it that we tend to learn more from the challenges than the triumphs?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
Adapted from the book The Fruit of the Spirit: Becoming The Person God Wants You to Be by Thomas Trask and Wayde Goodall.
