Our theme for this year is Fruit That Remains. In the past few months, we’ve reflected on the importance of staying connected to the vine so our lives will produce the good fruit of the Kingdom of God, such as the fruit of love and joy. Last month we looked at Jesus as the Firstfruit of all creation and the first to rise from the dead. This month, we turn our attention to the fruit of peace.

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.” (James 3:18 CSB)

As James 3 says, peace is not passive; it is cultivated. It is sown and grown in the soil of a life connected to Christ. And yet, we live in a world that is loud to the soul and harsh to our inner being. No matter your background or perspective, it’s hard to deny the atmosphere around us: chaos, confusion, conflict. Everywhere we turn, there is contention, commotion, clamor, confrontation, and crisis. A brief look at social media underscores this truth. The noise is relentless, and it presses in on the heart. It shows up in our lives as fear, anxiety, friction in relationships, illness, depression, etc. So, the question arises: How can we possibly experience peace in a world that seems to thrive on chaos, confusion, and conflict?

Jesus: Our Only True Peace

Scripture gives us a clear and steady answer—peace is not found in circumstances; it is found in a Person. “For a child will be born for us…and he will be named…Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 CSB) Jesus doesn’t merely bring peace. He is our peace.

After His resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” (John 14:27) Notice that He doesn’t offer the world’s version of peace—fleeting, fragile, and dependent on circumstances. He gives us His peace: steady, enduring, unshaken by the storms around us.

True peace begins with being reconciled to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 (CSB) tells us, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." When we are made right with God, the war within us ends. The noise and striving grow quiet. The soul finds true rest, and peace.

Peace in the Midst - Not the Absence - of Trouble

Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. In fact, He said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

Peace is not the absence of suffering—it is the presence of Christ in the middle of it. This kind of peace transforms us. It steadies our hearts when everything else feels unstable. It allows us to stand firm when the world shakes. And as we abide in Him, this peace becomes fruit in our lives—visible, tangible, and life-giving to others.

In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 4:35–40), Jesus and the disciples were sailing overnight on the Sea of Galilee when a severe storm arose. As the storm raged and waves crashed over the boat, Jesus was found in the stern—sleeping on a cushion. While the disciples panicked, convinced they were about to perish, He rested in perfect peace.

What a picture for us: in the middle of life’s fiercest storms, when everything feels like it’s being swallowed up, the safest place is not striving at the oars or spiraling in fear—it is drawing near to Him. I have always found it better to metaphorically “snuggle up” beside Jesus on that cushion, trusting His presence more than the power of the storm. The One who can rise and command, “Silence! Be still!” to the wind and the waves is the same One who invites us to rest in Him before the winds even cease.

The question He asked His disciples then still lingers in the air with us here, “Why are you afraid?” When we choose to stay close to Him, we discover that peace is not found in the absence of the wind and waves, but in the nearness of the Savior who rules over them.

Becoming People of Peace

Jesus calls us not just to receive peace, but to live as people of peace. He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9 CSB) The Apostle Paul instructs us “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18 CSB)

Just as a lack of obvious conflict is not the same as unity, being a peacemaker doesn’t mean avoiding conflict or ignoring our worldly realities. It means carrying the peace of Christ deep within your body, soul, and spirit. It means drawing from the well of peace to respond to every situation, with grace and truth, rooted in love. The apostle John reminds us that “grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ…in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3 CSB)

When others are not peaceful, we are not called to mirror their unrest. We are called to reflect Christ. Sometimes that means forgiving others even though we hurt. Sometimes that means praying blessings on those who act as our enemies. Sometimes that means staying silent even when we are maligned.

And sometimes it means walking away. Jesus instructed His disciples, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.” (Luke 10:5-6 CSB) Then Jesus instructed them to leave and shake the dust off their feet.

In other words, we carry peace—but we don’t strive to force it. We remain anchored, not agitated. If we value the peace we carry and the wellspring from which it flows, we will not compromise with chaos.

Cultivating Peace Daily

Peace doesn’t grow accidentally. It is pursued intentionally, “Let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11 CSB) But how? By seeking after God, taking Him at His word, and applying the Word of God rightly to our lives “since God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

• We must anchor ourselves in the knowledge of what is true and good. “May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2 CSB)

• We walk in wisdom from above, rather than the fleeting vanity of this world. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits…” (James 3:17 CSB)

• We trust and believe. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 CSB)

Peace grows where faith is rooted. It flourishes where Christ is trusted.

A Life Transformed by Peace

When we walk in peace with God, everything changes. The noise quiets. Our reactions soften. Our words become gentler. Our hearts become steadier. Our lives begin to reflect the peace of heaven amidst the realities of this restless world.

This genuine peace is fruit that remains. Not fleeting calm. Not surface-level quiet. But deep, abiding peace—the kind that holds firm through chaos, confusion, and conflict. The kind that can only come from the Prince of Peace Himself.

So, friends, as the storms of life rage on, you’ll find me in the stern, on a cushion, next to Jesus…and we invite you to join us.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You are the Prince of Peace, and we confess how often we look for peace in the wrong places. In a world full of chaos, confusion, and conflict, we seek to anchor our hearts to You. Teach us what it means to truly walk in peace with God—a peace that only You can give.

Fill us with Your Spirit so that Your peace would take root and grow good and lasting fruit in our lives. Help us to be peacemakers—carrying Your grace, truth, and love into every situation. When we are tempted to respond with fear or frustration, remind us that You have made Your peace available to us. May Your peace guard our hearts and transform our lives, so that we may reflect You to a world in desperate need of hope and everlasting peace.

Reflection Questions/Next Steps

1. Where in your life are you currently experiencing chaos, confusion, or conflict—and how might Jesus be inviting you to receive His peace in that place?

2. What does it look like for you to actively “seek and pursue peace” in your relationships this week?

3. How can you respond with grace, truth, and love when others around you are not acting peacefully?