If I were to ask you to think of a peaceful moment, you might think of a time when all was calm and quiet. When I think of peace, I think of peaceful sunsets and calm waters. But the peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of chaos or trouble. Rather, the peace we have in Jesus is a calm feeling in the midst of our storms.

In Philippians 4:6-7, the Apostle Paul tells us,   “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

The word peace is a concept, an abstract word. It is not a concrete word than can be easily visualized like a tree or a house. When teaching young children, it’s important to use concrete words that they can comprehend as they visualize them. In writing for the Christian children’s market, however, I don’t want to skip or gloss over these important truths from Scripture. Children can learn to understand abstract words if they are explained in kid-friendly language.

In my newest book, Our Daily Bread for Kids (Discovery House Publishers) I explain the word peace in the February 11 devotion: Peace is a calm feeling we have inside because we know God loves us and will care for us. Peace is the opposite of worry. When things in life don’t go well for us, we can still have peace by trusting God.

The peace that Jesus gives is beyond our understanding, because His love is beyond our understanding. And when we are calm and peaceful in the midst of our pain and struggles, it shows the world that we believe in a great and mighty God. The world needs that kind of peace!

No matter what you may be facing today, this week, this month, or this year, ask God to fill you with His peace that comes from knowing Jesus.

Crystal Bowman