John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Ephesians 6:10, 11, 15, “10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 15. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Hello OTP Family!! Today has been a challenging day, but yet one still full of blessings and the mercies of God. I was constantly reminded of the peace of God. How precious it is and how we need to “hold on” to that Godly peace placed in our hands directly by God. That perfect peace that allows his children to not be troubled or afraid. But we must hold our peace (at times) and hold on to our peace always.

Let’s talk about peace.

According to the dictionary peace is described as:

Peace fundamentally refers to a state of security, calmness, and harmony, characterized by the absence of war, violence, or mental stress. It spans from global harmony between nations to personal tranquility within an individual. 

Peace is typically categorized into several dimensions: 

• Global & Societal: The absence of war, hostility, or civil disorder. It is often formalized through treaties and maintained by law, civil order, and mutual respect. 
• Interpersonal: Harmonious relationships free from conflict, arguments, and tension. 
• Inner Peace: A psychological or spiritual state of serenity, balance, and acceptance. It represents freedom from oppressive thoughts, anxiety, or emotional turmoil. 

The word originates from the Latin word pax and is the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom (which also embodies concepts of wholeness, completeness, and well-being).

Biblically speaking, peace is described as:

In the Bible, peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is a holistic state of completeness, soundness, and well-being. Rooted in the original Hebrew shalom and Greek eirene, biblical peace signifies restored relationships, prosperity, and the active presence of God in the midst of chaos. 

The Two Pillars of Biblical Peace

1. Shalom (Old Testament)

• Meaning: Completeness, wholeness, and harmony.
• Usage: It refers to things being in their proper, intended order. For example, perfectly fitted stones without cracks, or complete payment of a debt.
• Focus: Shalom involves relationships between individuals, nations, and God, all operating in perfect harmony and mutual benefit. 

2. Eirene (New Testament)

• Meaning: Tranquility, quietness, and unity.
• Usage: It builds on shalom and is often used to describe reconciliation—such as two opposing parties coming together to form a “whole” again.
• Focus: Primarily, it denotes the inner calm and confidence Christians have through a restored relationship with God. 

Dimensions of Peace:

• Peace with God: The fundamental belief that, through Christ, the barrier of sin is removed, restoring your broken relationship with the Creator (Romans 5:1). 
• The Peace of God: An inner tranquility and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that guards your heart and mind against anxiety, even during difficult circumstances (Philippians 4:7). 
• Peace with Others: The active pursuit of reconciliation, unity, and justice among people, acting as “peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). 

Let’s also take a look at “hold.”

The Bible speaks of holding your peace as to keep silent, stop worrying, and trust God. Rather than a demand to simply “shut up,” it is an invitation to exercise self-control, let go of panic, and rely on God’s deliverance during chaotic moments.

– Resting in God’s battles: When the Israelites panicked at the Red Sea, Moses told them to “fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13-14). Here, holding your peace means surrendering your anxiety and trusting God to fight on your behalf. 

– Exercising wisdom and restraint: The Book of Proverbs suggests that staying silent is often a sign of wisdom. Proverbs 17:28 states, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding”

For the believer, it is the opportunity to express to God that we do trust him and take him at his word. It is an act of faith and love toward God. We always have the option to take things in our own hands and act out. But the end of this way only provides momentary satisfaction. Right behind that minor satisfaction, comes guilt, shame and embarrassment. Ultimately, we will find ourselves in a much worse state than before we put our own hands (or mouth) to the situation. Holding our peace in this way, we are ensured the victory. However, moving without self-control is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

There is another perspective of “holding” our peace that I would like to explore.

The word hold primarily functions as a verb meaning to grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.

In the John 14:27, Jesus clearly explains that he is leaving His peace with us. That is mind blowing and amazing! Consider this, that same level of calm confidence that Jesus showed at all times was due to the peace he had from the Father. Knowing that God had his back, he had no cause for concern. He spoke what he heard from the Father (for he was there with Him from the beginning (See John 1-14). That same source of calm confidence he has left with us. We just have to hold on to it.

In Ephesians, we see and are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God daily. The foundation of this armor is peace. Our feet are to be shod with the gospel of peace. This means where ever we walk, we are to walk in peace. Whatever room or space you enter the peace of God is coming with you. If you walk into a room where it seems chaos is reigning, we should allow that peace of God room to work because we carried it is with us.

We must ‘hold on” to this peace. We must guard it and never let it go. I say this because there are times where the troubles and situations we find ourselves in can sometimes challenge this peace and cause us to lose our grip on it. Making sure we are fully dressed in our armor daily will help us keep this in mind. Also, we must constantly speak peace over our lives, our situations, and our concerns. We must also speak peace over our homes, automobiles, and places of employment. I even speak peace over my children and their homes and situations. I walk in peace so every where I go, peace comes with me.

Hold on to the peace that God has given you. Hold your peace in your situations and allow God room to work on your behalf. God has your back and he will not let you down. We don’t have to worry or stress. We can love and trust God enough to take him at his word. This is peace at its finest.

Is this easy? No, but is not impossible.

Does this take practice? Yes, every day.

Will you fail at times regarding your peace? Yes. But the more you mindfully practice holding peace and holding on to your peace, the better you get.

My prayer for us all is that we continually walk in peace. That we recognize when the enemy is attacking our peace. That we recognize when it is time to go into spiritual warfare to protect our peace. That we take comfort in knowing that God is with us and has our back, continually, without fail.

Have a blessed night.

Please like and subscribe.