Week Thirty-One: Peace of God/Joy. July 30 – The Gift of Peace and Joy
Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Gregg’s Reflection
When I began meditating in 1982, I had one burning desire, to find peace for my soul. The verse I used was from John 14:27. I would pray ‘The Peace of God I leave with you; Jesus give me your peace.’ Come along with us and discover how joy and peace are signs of God’s presence.
The spiritual journey is rooted in gifts that God alone gives. Chief among them are peace and joy — not as fleeting emotions, but as abiding realities. Peace in Scripture is shalom — wholeness, harmony, and the still center that holds even in the midst of storms. Joy flows from God’s very being, a deep well that sustains us when happiness fades.
At the beginning of my meditation journey in 1982, I had anything but peace in my heart. That’s why I chose John 14:27 as my mantra. “My peace I give you,” I breathed in. “Give me your peace,” on the out-breath. Over the years, that prayer slowly dawned within me, awakening a peace and joy I could never have manufactured on my own.
Peace and joy walk hand in hand. They are not dependent on life’s circumstances, on success or failure, or on what others think of us. Instead, they arise from God’s faithful love and provide an anchor in life’s storms.
Today, I believe the greatest gift I can offer others—my family, friends, and coaching clients—is my interior stillness, the peace and joy rooted in Christ. These gifts are not for me alone but are meant to ripple outward, drawing others closer to God’s love.
Scripture
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
Ancient Quotes
The constant seeking of the soul pleases God very much, for the soul can do no more than seek, suffer, and trust, and this is brought about by the Holy Spirit. The seeking with faith, hope and love pleases our Lord and the finding pleases the soul and fills it with joy.
Julian of Norwich, The Complete Julian, p. 99
I am a string in the concert of God’s joy.
Jacob Boehme, Confessions, p. 164
Modern Quotes
Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Death: The Final Stage of Growth, p. 119
Journaling Prompts
- Where do you most clearly sense the presence of peace and joy in your life?
- How do you distinguish between fleeting happiness and the deeper joy of God?
- In what ways might your peace and joy serve as a witness to others?
- What prayer or practice could help you open more fully to God’s gift of peace today?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 31 Reflection: The Peace of God/Joy