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Peace Comes from God by Faith

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him [speaking of Abraham], but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 4:23-5:2 NKJV). [Emphasis Added]

Sometimes true believers struggle because they don’t experience the manifest presence of God. What is the manifest presence of God? It is simply that sense of nearness God gives His children when they draw near to Him (James 4:8-10).

This nearness fades when we sin. Notice David’s plea.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [by Your] generous Spirit (Psalms 51:10-12 NKJV).

The road back to peace takes us through the place of repentance. This, of course, demands faith. By faith, we understand God is good and faithful to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9).

Unfortunately, even when repentance has taken place, we often forget that our confession makes way for the Lord to return His presence. The devil lies to us saying, “You are no longer fit to be near God.” If we allow this lie to take root, it will grow into a hedge between God and ourselves.

Faith demands that we lay hold of the promises of God. David knew that God would return His joy to him, and that he could be restored.

In a backward kind of thinking, we say to ourselves, “I can’t sense the presence of God now that I have sinned so the devil must be right.”

Do not listen to this. Have faith in God’s promises then your peace will return. Of course, this assumes you are not secretly holding on to some sin, making provision for it, and never repenting of it. If this is the case, then your peace may have been a false peace and you have never been in Christ.

However, assuming true repentance, we may come boldly to the throne of grace for help (Hebrews 4:16). We may press on in faith. As it is written, As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV).

Beloved, if sin has ravaged your soul, repent and God will return His joy to you. Also, if you have already repented, then have faith that He has forgiven you and see if your joy doesn’t return. The devil wants to destroy you, to keep you out of the game; but God wants you to live by faith, to trust Him and seek His presence.

God can’t return your joy to you unless you have faith. Remember, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1).