How Can I Have Peace?
Lesson 4 -- Fruit of the spirit
(Bite-Sized Bible)

Have you ever wondered, "How can I have peace? Where does it start? Where does it end?"

There are a lot of concerning things in this world. We're fed apprehension for breakfast in the news, on television, on the internet and everywhere bad news can squeeze itself into.

What do I do? How can I have peace?

Let's look at it from the perspective of Galatians 5:22-23 and the Fruit of the Spirit.

Before we do, don't forget to take the quiz before you finish this lesson. The quiz will lock the information into your head and heart better. Testing has a way of doing that (James 1:2-3).

And now, let's look at peace.

How Can I Have Peace? An Honest Answer

You can have real, lasting peace. Here's the "trick." It doesn't come from trying harder to calm yourself down. It doesn't start with self-effort at all.

Then where does true peace start? How can I have peace?

True peace starts with being made right with God through Jesus Christ. Then it shows up as the peace of God in our hearts and minds.

There's no other way to find true peace. All other "peace" is simply a pipe-dream. This is the real thing.

Let's look at the various levels of true peace and then work to how it shakes out in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Peace With God

On our own, we are not at peace with God. We may think we're good with God. But that just isn't the case.

The Bible says that in our sin we are “enemies” of God and under His wrath. We have anything but His peace (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:3). We may feel fine spiritually. Life may look good to us. But God’s Word says we are separated from Him and cannot fix that by our own efforts (Isaiah 59:2).

So then how can I have peace if I'm unable to secure it myself?

God has done what we could never do. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life we have not lived and to die the death our sins deserve (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, Jesus took the judgment that should have fallen on us and satisfied God’s justice.

Because of this, the Bible says that we are justified and have peace with God because of what Christ did (Romans 5:1). Justification means God declares the grossest sinner righteous in His sight.

This isn't because of anything we have done. It's because of what Christ has done for us. When we turn from our sin and trust in Christ alone, God no longer counts us as an enemy. He receives us as His children (John 1:12; Romans 8:1).

This peace with God is objective. It does not rise and fall with our emotions. Even on days when we feel unsettled, the reality has not changed. If we are in Christ, no one and nothing can condemn us (Romans 8:1). God has made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).

The Peace Jesus Gives

Jesus makes more than just peace with God possible. He also gives His own peace to His people. This is peace on a practical level.

On the night before the cross, He told His disciples that He would leave them with His own peace (John 14:27). The world’s peace depends on circumstances. It only shows up when life is quiet and comfortable. Jesus offers a different kind of peace. His peace holds steady even in trouble.

Jesus told His followers they would have tribulation in this world. That may sound troubling until we look at the promise He gave as well. He also explained that, regardless of what happens, He has already conquered the world (John 16:33).

His peace does not mean the absence of trials. It means the presence of a risen Savior who reigns over those trials and walks with His people through them (Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 13:5–6).

Peace and the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)

But how does all this fit into the Fruit of the Spirit? How can I find peace like what Galatians 5 says?

The Root and Its Fruit

When Jesus gives us practical peace, something beautiful occurs. It starts to grow. Practical peace transforms into something bigger than just muddling through trials. It becomes a habit.

Don't get me wrong. Peace is the inner rest and confidence God gives as we trust Him day by day. It's called the Fruit of the Spirit because the Spirit gives us the ability to do it. Without the Spirit, we would have no chance at real peace!

Then how does this peace work? How can I have peace like this?

Look at it this way. A plant has a root, stalk, leaves and finally fruit. The Spirit produces the root, which produces fruit. Without that important nourishment, our spiritual lives would die and peace wouldn't be produced. The fruit depends on the root.

All this means practical peace is part of the Spirit’s new work in a person who has been united to Christ. Where the Spirit is at work, hostility toward God and others is being replaced with a growing desire for reconciliation, unity, and rest in God’s will.

Peace really is fruit produced from the Spirit.

Avoiding Spoiled Fruit

However, there's a danger here. We can't get a "Let go and let God!" mentality either. The root without the fruit isn't fruit at all. It's just a root bulb, not a full plant that produces fruit.

We also have to practice the peace God has started in our hearts. Without practicing peace, we begin to forget that we have been reconciled to God and others through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). The fruit then becomes much less sweet. It becomes spoiled fruit.

If we understand this, peace then becomes more than just something that naturally flows from the Spirit. It becomes something we want to practice because it is a gift from God. We love God so much, and the peace He has given us, we want to share that peace with others.

We will actually want to practice peace and live it out every day as a habit. The root then becomes the full fruit.

So How Can I Have Peace?

So what's the answer?

If you have never come to Christ, the first and most important step is to be reconciled to God. The Bible calls us all to turn from our sin and to believe the good news that Jesus died and rose again for sinners (Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31). That applies to everyone, no matter who they are or where they live (Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9–13).

You can't buy this peace, earn it, or work it up by your own strength. It is a gift of God’s grace, received by faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). When you call on the name of the Lord Jesus, you will find peace through Him (John 6:37; John 10:27–29).

If you are already a believer, develop the habit of peace. It's already there. The root has been born. Now live it out. Read Scriptures that encourage you to live in peace. Find ways of practicing peace in your relationships with others.

If you do, you won't have to ask, "How can I have peace?" It's already evident as anxiety melts away, replaced with real peace (John 14:27).

Find that peace today. God bless.

How Can I Have Peace? – Lesson 4 Quiz

Lesson 4 Quiz: How Can I Have Peace?

Test what you’ve learned about true peace with God and the peace the Spirit produces as fruit.

Question 1 of 10

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Correct answers so far. Think carefully about where true peace begins and how the Spirit produces it as fruit.

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Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 4: Peace

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Keep resting in Christ’s finished work and walking by the Spirit as you grow in real peace.

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How Can I Have Peace?
Lesson 4 -- Fruit of the spirit
(Bite-Sized Bible)