April 2nd, 2024
Have you ever said that you needed some peace and quiet? We usually say this in frustration, amid busyness or noise, when we’re in need of solitude. Did you know that it’s something God’s promised you? Whether your surroundings are physically quiet or not, you can live in a spiritual state of peace and quiet. The Bible references peace and quiet, a few times.
In 1 Chronicles 22:9, God promised that He would “give peace and quiet to Israel in [Solomon’s] day.”
Isaiah 32:18 says,
“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
1 Timothy 2:2b says,
“…that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
The word for peace in the Old Testament is shalom meaning “wholeness, tranquility, soundness, or welfare.”
Peace is the inevitable result of being in right relationship with God. It’s the wholeness that comes only from having your relationship with Him restored. No human being can have peace apart from salvation.
Isaiah 54:10 says,
‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.’
Peace is a promise for the children of God, and we see this perfectly displayed in Jesus, who is Himself our peace. Ephesians 2:14-17 says,
“In Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
This verse is speaking of the unity of the Jews and Gentiles, but also our union to God in Christ Jesus. In Jesus, we who were once far off have been brought near. In Jesus, the record of our debt and sin is cancelled, thereby allowing us to “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus said in John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
The world will try to give you “peace,” but there is no peace apart from Him. All of humanity is desperate for it, whether they realize it or not. So many people struggle to sleep because sleep requires peace. Psalms 4:8 says,
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Every coping mechanism used to treat depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, or stress (medical or otherwise) is an attempt to mimic the peace of God. However, there is no substitute. All those things can only numb that which the peace of God fully heals.
Now, “peace and quiet” are slightly different. “Quietness,” in this context, is about rest from toil or struggle. It means stillness or safety and can also be translated undisturbed. In the verse from 1 Chronicles, it’s specifically talking about rest from war, but it can be used figuratively, as well.
Rest is spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. As we work in the kingdom of God, we shouldn’t feel spiritually tired, because we draw on His strength and not our own. If you feel “unrest,” or disquieted in any way, you have stopped abiding in some area. When you’re connected to the vine, you’ll never feel the exhaustion of toiling. This doesn’t mean that we don’t work in God’s kingdom. It means that amid our work there is always rest. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
When we come to Jesus, He removes every heavy yoke and burden. There is spiritual rest for every child of God! The Sabbath is a covenant picture of that rest and God established it from the creation of the world. Hebrews 4:1-4 says,
“Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
Although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”
Jesus is our rest and the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), and the Sabbath day is part of that covenant promise of rest. Adam and Eve rested on their first day as created beings. Everything we do for God has to come from a place of rest in Him. Isaiah 26:3 says,
‘You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.’
This week, I encourage you to find peace and quiet in the only one who can truly give it. Regardless of what your life looks like right now or what season you’re in, you can have rest! True peace and quiet is the restorative stillness of a soul in constant communion with God. Your mind doesn’t have to race. Your sleep can be sweet. You can rest in the victory of Christ. In the middle of the noise, it can be well with your soul!
In 1 Chronicles 22:9, God promised that He would “give peace and quiet to Israel in [Solomon’s] day.”
Isaiah 32:18 says,
“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
1 Timothy 2:2b says,
“…that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
The word for peace in the Old Testament is shalom meaning “wholeness, tranquility, soundness, or welfare.”
Peace is the inevitable result of being in right relationship with God. It’s the wholeness that comes only from having your relationship with Him restored. No human being can have peace apart from salvation.
Isaiah 54:10 says,
‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.’
Peace is a promise for the children of God, and we see this perfectly displayed in Jesus, who is Himself our peace. Ephesians 2:14-17 says,
“In Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
This verse is speaking of the unity of the Jews and Gentiles, but also our union to God in Christ Jesus. In Jesus, we who were once far off have been brought near. In Jesus, the record of our debt and sin is cancelled, thereby allowing us to “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus said in John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
The world will try to give you “peace,” but there is no peace apart from Him. All of humanity is desperate for it, whether they realize it or not. So many people struggle to sleep because sleep requires peace. Psalms 4:8 says,
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Every coping mechanism used to treat depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, or stress (medical or otherwise) is an attempt to mimic the peace of God. However, there is no substitute. All those things can only numb that which the peace of God fully heals.
Now, “peace and quiet” are slightly different. “Quietness,” in this context, is about rest from toil or struggle. It means stillness or safety and can also be translated undisturbed. In the verse from 1 Chronicles, it’s specifically talking about rest from war, but it can be used figuratively, as well.
Rest is spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. As we work in the kingdom of God, we shouldn’t feel spiritually tired, because we draw on His strength and not our own. If you feel “unrest,” or disquieted in any way, you have stopped abiding in some area. When you’re connected to the vine, you’ll never feel the exhaustion of toiling. This doesn’t mean that we don’t work in God’s kingdom. It means that amid our work there is always rest. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
When we come to Jesus, He removes every heavy yoke and burden. There is spiritual rest for every child of God! The Sabbath is a covenant picture of that rest and God established it from the creation of the world. Hebrews 4:1-4 says,
“Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
Although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”
Jesus is our rest and the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), and the Sabbath day is part of that covenant promise of rest. Adam and Eve rested on their first day as created beings. Everything we do for God has to come from a place of rest in Him. Isaiah 26:3 says,
‘You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.’
This week, I encourage you to find peace and quiet in the only one who can truly give it. Regardless of what your life looks like right now or what season you’re in, you can have rest! True peace and quiet is the restorative stillness of a soul in constant communion with God. Your mind doesn’t have to race. Your sleep can be sweet. You can rest in the victory of Christ. In the middle of the noise, it can be well with your soul!
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