7.20.2026 - Anneke de Jong

Today’s devotional was written by Anneke de Jong, a member of Visalia CRC.

Monday, July 20, 2026

God Gives Us His Peace

As you enter your time with God today, pause for a moment of silence before beginning with this prayer from Psalm 85:

Show me your unfailing love, Lord, and grant me your salvation. May I listen closely to what you say and may I hear your promise of peace to me, your faithful servant. Amen

When I was a kid, and bumper stickers were cool, I used to see one that said, “No God, No Peace, Know God, Know Peace.” 

Simple and pithy - this phrase perfectly sums up our topic for the week: God gives us His peace.

The dictionary defines peace as the absence of conflict, and freedom from disturbances, noise, or violence. I think we can agree that this kind of peace is a very good thing. We don’t want war, violent civil disturbances, or family conflicts. But we also know that this type of peace is fragile. It’s dependent on people and circumstances beyond our control. It is often incomplete, insufficient, and short-lived.

God’s peace is something entirely different. 

The Bible uses the Hebrew word Shalom to describe God’s peace. Shalom is characterized by a sense of wholeness and completeness, of total well-being. It is unshakable and everlasting.

My mom’s life demonstrated this kind of peace. She faced many challenges in her life - the greatest of which was losing her young husband and raising 5 children alone. She faced every new challenge with strength, courage, and wisdom, surrendering herself fully to God’s love and faithfulness. 

In 2022, she got sick. She had been suffering from Parkinson’s for a decade and had dealt with chronic pain for years before that, but this time we knew God was going to call her home. I asked her if she was scared. She said, “No.” She was at peace. 

A few days later, the hospice social worker paid a visit. As she sat with my mom and her caretaker Martha, she asked, “What is this?” 

This was the peace of God. Incomprehensible to those who don’t know Him. Unimaginable to those who think peace is dependent on circumstances. But promised to all those who put their hope and trust in God.

This is a promise that fills the pages of Scripture and is highlighted in our text for today.

Isaiah 54:10:

Though the mountains be shaken 

and the hills be removed, 

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken 

nor my covenant of peace be removed,” 

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

God spoke these words to a people who were facing the threat of war and exile. Their security and identity were being shaken. Their land, the temple, and the life they had known for centuries were about to be removed. There was no peace in their future—at least not as the world defines it. 

But God promised that his unfailing love and his covenant of peace would be with them. This covenant was an arrangement of peace with God and his people because their sins would be atoned for. One chapter earlier, Isaiah had prophesied that this covenant would be fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  

He was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities.

The punishment that brought us peace was on him, 

And by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

As Paul says so eloquently, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Jesus promises to give this same peace to everyone who believes in Him and surrenders their life to His. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Today, we live in a covenant of peace with God that Jesus made possible for us. A peace that offers complete wholeness and well-being, not dependent on anyone or anything other than God’s faithful love and covenant of peace. His Shalom.

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