All of these things—age, money, friendship—are fragile and gratify only for a short time. The years fly away, money is easily lost, and friends come and go. Those who strive for them are ultimately disappointed when they find out that they still have not fully satisfied their need for true happiness and contentment.

Peace in life comes with being at peace with God. It is what Paul calls the “peace which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). It is the inner tranquility that exists because you have a secure expectation of the judgment and are prepared at all times to meet the Lord. There is no substitute for it, there is no shortcut to attain it. Peace with God is not acquired with riches, popularity, or age; it is, in fact, worth more than all of those things combined. It is the ability to lay your head on your pillow at night and say with all confidence, “Lord, come quickly.”

Peace with God demands being at war with the world. “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). You have to chose one or the other. Many are inclined to think that there is no happiness in life apart from immorality, ungodliness, and sin. The devil convinces us that “that’s what life’s all about.” But if you really want lasting pleasure and happiness that is wholesome, pure, and right, you must resign all worldly connections and associations.

Peace with God requires being at peace with yourself. God is faithful and has promised to forgive us when we fail Him, but He cannot forgive the sin that has not been made right. Since sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2), our relationship is broken until we genuinely repent and seek to be reunited with Him through Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Someone has said, “there is no softer pillow than a clear conscience.” The God of peace makes such a possibility.

Peace with God is impossible without being at peace with your brother. How can you profess to be a child of God when you mistreat and abuse those whom He loves? John said “the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). Our most important task, aside from loving and serving our God, is loving and serving His people. Sincere Christianity looks out for the interests of others and strives to be at peace with all men, knowing that this pleases the Lord.

Know God, know peace. The opposite is just as true. No God, no peace.