Wars, crises, fear everywhere – can there even be true peace in such a world? And what distinguishes the peace this world promises from the peace that only God can grant?
When we look at the world around us, it’s sometimes hard to even talk about peace. Almost every day we hear about wars, conflicts, terrorism, economic hardship, political tensions, and societal crises. At the same time, many people are struggling with their own personal burdens, such as worries about their families, health problems, financial difficulties, or fear of an uncertain future. It appears the world is becoming increasingly turbulent.
Against this backdrop, many ask an important question: Can there even be true peace in such a world?
The Bible answers this question with a clear “yes”. However, we first need to understand what true peace actually is.
Many people picture peace as the absence of problems. To them, peace means that everything is going well, that no difficulties arise, and that the future seems secure.
As long as circumstances are favorable, they are at ease. But as soon as a crisis occurs, this peace is shaken. It depends on circumstances that can change at any moment.
The peace of God is unlike this. It does not come about through the disappearance of all problems. It comes through trust in God. This trust is not simply an achievement we accomplish on our own. The Bible describes peace as part of the fruit of the Spirit of God at work within us (compare Galatians 5:22). In other words, when we entrust our lives to God, He allows His peace to grow within us.
To understand this, we must first recognize why the world is how it is in the first place.
Many people assume that God rules the world today in a direct and immediate way and that everything that happens on earth is an expression of His Will. The Bible, however, presents a more comprehensive picture.
God is the Creator of the universe. He possesses all power, and ultimately everything belongs to Him. Yet the present world is not governed according to His standards. The Bible describes Satan as the one who deceives the whole world and as the “god of this world” (Authorized Version). That is why we see the consequences of human self-determination and mismanagement everywhere – wars, hatred, injustice, corruption, violence, and confusion.
If the true God already ruled the world today, there would be no wars, no oppression of the weak, and no political lust for power. Instead, the conditions we experience today reflect a humanity that goes its own way and absolutely rejects God’s Way.
History confirms this time and again. Humans have made impressive technological advances; there is no question of that. They went to the moon, fought diseases, and brought about tremendous developments – but these also include negative developments. They have not solved the fundamental problem: They have not created lasting peace, nor are they capable of doing so.
Why not?
Because the real problem cannot be found solely in political systems, economic models, or a lack of education. The problem runs deeper. It lies in the human heart. As long as pride, envy, selfishness, greed, and the pursuit of power control people, the problems of this world will persist. That is why we do not believe that the ultimate solution will come through human efforts.
But before we can speak of this necessary inward, tangible peace, we must take a step back. The Bible shows us that humanity is separated from God. This means that before we can experience the peace of God in our daily lives, we must first be at peace with God Himself. Everything else builds upon this.
Humanity needs more than just better ideas. It needs God’s guidance. This is precisely where the difference between the peace of the world and the peace of God begins. The peace of the world says, “I have peace when everything is going well.” The peace of God says, “I have peace because I trust in God, even when not everything is going well.”
Jesus Christ made this distinction clear when He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you…” (John 14:27).
The prophet Isaiah summed up the same idea centuries earlier. The New King James Bible translates it particularly clearly: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” God grants perfect peace to the one who sets his thoughts (his mind and his heart) on God and trusts in Him.
Jesus spoke of God’s peace shortly before His suffering and death. His situation was anything but peaceful. Yet, He spoke of peace. It is indeed difficult to imagine this when facing death.
But the peace He spoke of did not depend on external circumstances. He trusted completely in His Father – our Father. We see the same principle in many biblical role models.
Abraham left his homeland without knowing exactly where God would lead him. Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery. Daniel lived under a foreign government. The apostles were persecuted and harassed.
None of them led a trouble-free life. Just as we, too, do not lead trouble-free lives. Nevertheless, they did not lose hope, because their trust did not depend on their circumstances, but was rooted in God the Father.
Perhaps the example of Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee illustrates this idea best. As a violent storm raged, the disciples were in a panic. They saw only the waves, the wind, and the danger that came with them. Jesus, on the other hand, remained calm. The storm was the same for everyone. The boat was the same. The danger was the same. The difference, however, was their trust.
It is the same today. We all experience storms. Some affect our health; others, our family, our work, or our plans for the future. The crucial question is not whether we will experience storms. The crucial question is what or whom we trust, when they come.
But how do we trust God in the midst of a storm? The Bible gives us very practical guidance on this. Paul writes: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Trust is not a feeling we have to somehow find within ourselves. It is a conscious decision to bring our worries before God instead of carrying them around on our own.
As Christians, we do not ignore the problems of this world. We do not turn a blind eye to the news. We know that the world is facing difficult times. But we view these developments from a different perspective. We know that the chaos of this world is not the end of the story.
Our hope does not depend on politics, the economy, or human institutions. Our hope lies in the Kingdom of God.
The Bible promises the Return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of a reign of justice on earth and over the earth. For the first time in history, the world will then be governed, guided, and ruled according to God’s standards. War will no longer be taught. Justice will not depend on power or money. The causes of suffering, hatred, and oppression will be eliminated.
That is why we can have peace even today. Not because the world has become peaceful – by no means. Not because all problems have been solved. But because we know that God is carrying out His plan and that His Kingdom will come.
True peace does not come from the security of this world. It comes from the certainty that God is in control of the future. That is why the real answer to the question in this Q&A is:
Yes, peace can be found in a chaotic world. But this peace does not come from the world getting better before Christ’s Return, because it won’t. It comes from trusting God more than the circumstances around us.
The peace of the world waits for the storm to pass. The peace of God gives us the strength to stand firm in the midst of the storm.
Lead Writer: Christoph Sperzel (Germany)
(Initial Translation: Daniel Blasinger)