The Grace of God
The Peace of God
What’s the difference?
So, I did a study on the Peace of God this past week (focusing on Philippians 4:6-8 with other scriptural references).
I learned that, in general, the Peace of God, the Greek word eirene, is a unifying, restful peace.
Our mind and heart join together with the will of God. We don’t have those internal struggles with ourselves and with what we know God wants. We don’t struggle against God. We have a restful unity with Him.
Which made me wonder - isn’t that how we use the term grace?
“Lord, give me grace to deal with this.”
This hard time, difficult person, etc.
I guess people use grace that way because of II Corinthians 2:9, where Paul was telling about a trial he has endured and prayed for relief, but God’s answer was simply “...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...” and Paul then concluded “...Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Yet the word grace there is no different than the word used all throughout the New Testament in a completely different context - the one of God’s unmerited favor in granting is salvation.
Grace, in the Greek text, is the word charis. It means an act of favor, unmerited, deserving thanks.
Remember Ephesians 2:8?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:”
The grace of God that is sufficient to get us through hardships is the salvation He grants us through faith.
Remembering this should then put us in a worshipful mindset.
Philippians 4:6-7 says
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
When we dig deeper into this, we see that when hard times come, it is God’s grace, His gift of salvation, that leads us to His peace.
In prayer (worshipful conversation according to the Greek), supplication (humble request) with thanksgiving for ALL He has done, we can request help for our problems.
Then, the peace of God will unify our heart and mind with Him and get us through in a way we can’t even have imagined or asked for.
A peace, calm, that goes beyond our understanding.
So really, when we say “I need grace for...” what we really mean, in Biblical terminology, is “I need peace...”
Here is why I’ve been trying to study more in this topic and get a better understanding.
My youngest (outside the womb) is a very difficult child. Stubborn, disobedient, you name it. We have struggled in almost every aspect of life in her nearly four years. From sleep, eating, listening, potty training... I could go on and on. She is also on the slightly hyper side of normal and high energy children is something I don’t always handle well.
Discipline doesn’t seem to work with her personality, and neither does bribery. There are times I seriously feel like giving up.
- Don’t worry, I haven’t.
People always say “you get grace when you need it, for the time you’re in.”
Perhaps that’s so, but I’m wondering if we are missing something so much more beautiful.
I have God’s grace always. I struggle with peace in the moment(s) of trouble.
I would much rather allow God’s grace to put me in the right attitude to allow His peace to fill my heart, mind, and soul.
Every day
Every moment
Every situation
So that when I butt heads with my blessing of a stubborn youngin’, peace abounds and God’s grace is visible.
