Peace may be the thing we want most and find hardest to keep. We look for it in a quiet evening, a settled bank account, or a problem finally solved, and then something new comes along and it’s gone again.
The Bible speaks about peace in a deeper way. It describes peace with God, peace from God that settles our hearts and minds, and peace with the people around us. The verses below follow that order, with what each one means for everyday life.
Peace With God
All other peace begins here. Through Jesus, the distance between us and God has been closed:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”
Romans 5:1 NLT
This peace doesn’t depend on how we feel on a given day. It rests on what Jesus has done, and it’s the ground every other kind of peace stands on.
The Peace Jesus Gives
On the night before the cross, Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them a gift:
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 NLT
In my book, Renewing Your Mind: Living Life Intentionally, I point out what this means for us:
“We see that Jesus has already left us with the gift of peace through His Holy Spirit. It is for both our hearts and our minds.”
Peace is also part of the fruit the Holy Spirit grows in a believer’s life, alongside love and joy (Galatians 5:22–23). It isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something God gives, and something we learn to receive.
How to Experience God’s Peace
If Jesus has already given us peace, why does it so often feel out of reach? Scripture shows that we have a part to play.
Trade worry for prayer. Paul wrote these words from prison:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6–7 NLT
In the book I call these verses “a prescription for peace,” adding: “That would mean we have a role to play in experiencing peace.” Pray instead of worrying, tell God what you need, and thank Him, and His peace stands guard over your heart and mind.
Fix your thoughts on God. This verse comes from a song of trust God gave His people through Isaiah:
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
I came across it at a hard moment. As I wrote in the book:
“At the time I was writing this chapter, I was experiencing some difficulties and I was lacking peace. Then I came across the scripture above. As I read it, I found myself asking these two questions: ‘What am I not trusting God with?’ and ‘Are my thoughts fixed on God right now?’ The simple answer is that I was focused on my problems rather than on God.”
Those two questions are worth asking whenever peace slips away. Where our thoughts go, our peace tends to follow. (For a practical way to bring your thoughts back to God, see How to Take Every Thought Captive (opens in a new tab).)
Stand on the Good News. When Paul describes the armour of God, he is teaching believers how to stand firm, and peace is part of that equipment:
“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”
Ephesians 6:15 NLT
Good shoes give firm footing. The peace that comes from the Good News, peace with God through Jesus, keeps us steady and ready for whatever the day brings. We put it on by standing on what the gospel says is true.
Bible Verses About Peace in Worry and Fear
Worry and fear are peace’s most familiar thieves. God’s Word speaks to both.
When tomorrow feels heavy. Jesus spoke these words to people anxious about food, clothing and the future:
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Matthew 6:34 NLT
Just before this, He gave the remedy: seek God’s kingdom first, and trust Him with the rest (Matthew 6:33).
When you’re afraid. David wrote this when he was in danger:
“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3 NLT
And he wrote this after God had answered:
“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:4 NLT
Fear may still come. These verses show what to do with it: bring it to God and choose to trust Him.
Bible Verses About Peace With Others
The peace God gives is meant to shape how we treat people too.
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18 NLT
Notice the wording: do all that you can. We can’t control how others respond, but we can do our part, by forgiving, listening, and refusing to keep a quarrel alive.
Keep God’s Peace Close
The verses that bring peace are the ones you have with you when worry comes. Choose one from this page and keep it close this week. Isaiah 26:3 and Psalm 56:3 are both on our Scripture Cards (opens in a new tab), made to carry in your pocket, and How to Memorize Scripture (opens in a new tab) shows a simple way to hide a verse in your heart.
A Blessing of Peace
God gave this blessing to the priests of Israel to speak over His people. It’s still a beautiful prayer to pray for someone you love:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24–26 NIV
Go Deeper
These verses come from the joy and peace chapter of my book, Renewing Your Mind: Living Life Intentionally, which looks at what steals our peace and how to live in God’s peace on purpose.
Let His Peace Guard Your Mind
Peace grows as God’s Word reshapes what we trust and where our thoughts settle. At Renewing Your Mind Discipleship Ministry, we teach a simple way to engage God’s Word so it changes how you live, in four parts. We call it The Process.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NLT
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
