Let There Be Peace

By Pastor Juliana T Akinbami

Introduction: Let There Be Peace

In a world filled with storms, broken relationships, and personal struggles, peace often feels elusive. Yet, God’s Word reminds us that peace is not defined by the absence of chaos but by the presence of Christ in our lives. Whether it’s the tempestuous waves that threaten to sink our faith, the wounds of strained relationships, or the inner turmoil that weighs down our hearts, we have access to a divine peace that surpasses all understanding.

The theme “Let There Be Peace” calls us to fix our gaze on Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to draw from His boundless authority, power, and love. From the calming of the storm in Mark 4 to the reconciliation between Jacob and Esau, and Hannah’s renewed peace after surrendering her burdens to God, Scripture reveals that peace is attainable when we trust God, seek reconciliation, and surrender our anxieties at His feet.
This week, we will focus on three key aspects of peace:

  1. Peace in the Storm – Trusting God in Difficult Times
  2. Peace Through Reconciliation – Healing Broken Relationships
  3. Inner Peace – Guarding Your Heart and Mind

Each focus reminds us of the transformative power of God’s presence and promises. As we meditate on His Word and apply these truths, let us boldly declare peace over every area of our lives.

Call to Prayer

Now, let us approach the throne of grace with faith and confidence. As we lift our voices in prayer, we declare:
“Let there be peace in the storm, let there be peace in our relationships, and let there be peace within our hearts. In the name of Jesus, let there be peace!”

Point 1: Peace in the Storm – Trusting God in Difficult Times

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41 AMPC)

In this passage, Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a furious storm arose, threatening to sink their boat. The disciples, overwhelmed with fear, woke Jesus, crying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus rose, rebuked the wind, and commanded the sea, “Peace, be still!” Instantly, the storm ceased, and there was a great calm. Jesus then asked His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”


Trusting Jesus Brings Peace in Chaos
Even in life’s fiercest storms, Jesus has authority over every situation. The disciples’ fear stemmed from focusing on the storm rather than the Saviour. Peace isn’t the absence of storms but the presence of Jesus. When we trust His power and sovereignty, our faith replaces fear, and calm replaces chaos.


How To Apply This in Your Life

  1. Recognize Jesus’ Presence in Your Storms
    • Acknowledge that Jesus is with you in every situation. Just as He was in the boat with the disciples, He is present in your life, no matter how turbulent it may seem. Spend time in prayer and meditation to remind yourself of His abiding presence. Meditate on Hebrews 13:5-6.
  2. Speak Peace into Your Situation
    • Follow Jesus’ example by speaking peace over your circumstances. Use Scripture to affirm God’s promises, such as Isaiah 26:3 (“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you”). Declare God’s authority over every area of your life—personal, financial, relational, or spiritual.
  3. Trust His Power Over the Storm
    • Shift your focus from the problem to the One who has the power to solve it. Remember, no storm is beyond Jesus’ control. Trusting Him doesn’t mean the storm will disappear instantly, but it assures you that you’re secure even as you navigate it.
  4. Cultivate Faith Over Fear
    • Jesus questioned His disciples’ faith because their fear had overshadowed it. Build your faith by immersing yourself in God’s Word, reflecting on His past faithfulness, and surrounding yourself with testimonies of His power. Faith grows when you actively trust God amidst challenges.
  5. Maintain a Posture of Worship and Gratitude
    • Worship shifts your perspective from your challenges to God’s greatness. Like Paul and Silas, who worshipped in prison (Acts 16:25), choose to praise God even when life feels overwhelming. Gratitude fuels trust and peace in your heart.

Let us speak Peace over every storm.


Prayer: Let There Be Peace in the Storm

 

Heavenly Father,

I come before You today, declaring Your Word over every storm and chaos in my life. Just as Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves in Mark 4:35-41 and said, “Peace, be still!” I stand in the authority of that same Word and command every raging storm in my life to be muzzled in the name of Jesus.

Lord, I declare, let there be peace in my family, peace in my mind, and peace in my heart. Let there be peace in my health, in my relationships, in my career, and in every area that feels overwhelmed by the storms of life. I trust in Your power, Jesus, to calm every chaos and to bring divine order where there is confusion.

You said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Today, I choose to trust You, Lord. I cast out fear, and I hold firmly to faith. I declare that You are with me in every boat of my life, and Your presence brings calm and assurance.

I speak to every challenge before me: “Be still in the name of Jesus!” Every wind of opposition, every wave of doubt, every storm of fear—be silenced and subdued by the authority of Christ. I declare victory and peace over my circumstances because You are the God who speaks peace and brings calm.

Lord, thank You for being my refuge in the storm and my strength in difficulty. I rest in the truth that with You, nothing can overtake me. Let there be peace now and forevermore, in Jesus’ mighty name.
Amen.
 

Point 2: Peace Through Reconciliation – Healing Broken Relationships

Jacob and Esau Reconcile (Genesis 33:1-11)
Jacob and Esau’s relationship had been marred by deception and betrayal. Years earlier, Jacob had stolen Esau’s birthright and blessing, causing Esau to vow revenge. Fearing Esau’s anger, Jacob prepared to meet him after many years apart, sending gifts ahead as a peace offering. When the brothers finally met, Jacob bowed in humility, but instead of responding with hostility, Esau ran to embrace him. They wept together, marking a moment of reconciliation and restored peace.


Key Lesson: Peace Requires Humility, Forgiveness, and Intentional Action
One key lesson in the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau is that peace in relationships often comes through intentional effort. Jacob humbled himself by bowing before Esau and offering restitution, while Esau chose to forgive and let go of past grievances. This story reminds us that humility, forgiveness, and active steps toward reconciliation are essential to heal broken relationships.


Practical Applications

  1. Acknowledge the Need for Reconciliation
    • Recognize areas in your life where relationships have been strained or broken. Pray for discernment and courage to address these situations. Avoid ignoring or justifying unresolved conflicts, as they hinder peace.
  2. Take the First Step
    • Like Jacob, be proactive in seeking reconciliation, even if it means initiating a difficult conversation. Send a message, write a letter, or arrange a meeting to express your desire for peace. Taking the first step demonstrates humility and a willingness to heal the relationship.
  3. Practice Humility and Forgiveness
    • Humility means prioritizing the relationship over your pride or need to be right. Forgiveness involves letting go of past hurts and choosing not to hold them against the other person. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14: “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
  4. Offer Restitution When Necessary
    • If you’ve wronged someone, take responsibility for your actions and offer to make amends. Like Jacob, who presented gifts to Esau, your willingness to restore what was lost can demonstrate genuine repentance and pave the way for reconciliation.
  5. Pray for God’s Help
    • Reconciliation is often a spiritual battle, requiring God’s intervention. Pray for softened hearts—both yours and the other person’s—and ask for wisdom to approach the situation in love. Trust that God’s grace can heal even the deepest wounds.

The story of Jacob and Esau shows that God can mend even the most broken relationships. Romans 12:18 reminds us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Take steps toward reconciliation today, knowing that God blesses peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Healing strained relationships not only restores peace with others but also brings inner peace and honours God’s command to love one another.

Prayer: Let There Be Peace Through Reconciliation

Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a heart open to Your healing power, declaring Your peace over every broken significant relationship in my life. Just as You brought reconciliation between Jacob and Esau in Genesis 33, I ask that You bring healing, restoration, and peace into strained relationships in my life.

Lord, I declare, let there be peace in my family, in my friendships, and in every relationship marked by pain or misunderstanding. I ask for softened hearts—both mine and those I am estranged from. Father, uproot pride, anger, and bitterness, and fill us with humility, forgiveness, and love.

I speak to every wall of division, every root of offense, and every spirit of discord: be broken and removed in the name of Jesus! I command reconciliation and restoration to replace division and hurt. Let there be healing where there has been wounding, and let forgiveness flow like a river, washing away resentment and restoring unity.

Lord, Your Word says in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Help me to take intentional steps toward reconciliation. Give me wisdom, grace, and courage to approach those I need to make peace with in love and humility.

I declare, let there be restoration in every relationship where the enemy has sown seeds of division. I declare healing over marriages, families, friendships, and communities. Let the love of Christ be the foundation that rebuilds and strengthens these bonds.

Father, I thank You that You bless peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). I trust in Your power to mend even the deepest wounds and to bring beauty from ashes. Thank You for Your grace that makes reconciliation possible. I walk forward in faith, believing that You are working all things for good.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I declare: let there be peace!
Amen.

Point 3: Inner Peace – Guarding Your Heart and Mind

Hannah’s Peace After Prayer (1 Samuel 1:9-18)
Hannah’s barrenness caused her deep emotional pain, exacerbated by Peninnah’s taunts. In her distress, she went to the temple and poured out her heart to God, praying earnestly and making a vow. Though she had not yet received her miracle, Hannah left the temple with a renewed sense of peace. Her countenance changed because she surrendered her burden to God and trusted His plan.
1 Samuel 1: 18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.


Key Lesson: Surrender in Prayer Brings Inner Peace
Looking at Hannah’s story illustrates that peace doesn’t always come from receiving what we desire but from trusting God with our burdens. When we surrender our anxieties to Him in prayer, He replaces our distress with His peace. This peace, even in uncertain situations, guards our hearts and minds because it comes from God’s presence and assurance of His perfect timing.

God wants us to have peace. We see this affirmed several times in scripture:

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Philippians 4: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.


Practical Applications

  1. Pour Out Your Heart to God

    • Like Hannah, take your deepest burdens and desires to God in prayer. Be honest about your struggles, fears, and frustrations. God welcomes your transparency and delights in your trust. Psalm 62:8 encourages us to “pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”

  2. Surrender Your Worries

    • Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up on your desires but entrusting them to God’s capable hands. Acknowledge His sovereignty and rest in His perfect wisdom, knowing that He works all things for good (Romans 8:28).

  3. Trust God’s Timing and Plan

    • Hannah’s peace came from trusting that God heard her prayer and would act in His time. Similarly, place your confidence in God’s timing and trust that His plan for your life is better than your own. Remember Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

  4. Guard Your Heart and Mind with Prayer and Thanksgiving

    • Philippians 4:6-7 provides a clear path to inner peace: “ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

    • Make gratitude a part of your prayer life, thanking God for His faithfulness, even when we are waiting for answers to prayers. Gratitude shifts your focus from worry to trust.

  5. Rest in God’s Peace

    • After praying, choose to rest in God’s peace instead of returning to worry. Meditate on Scriptures that affirm His promises, like Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”


Inner peace is not the absence of struggles but the presence of God in the midst of them. Take your burdens to Him in prayer, surrender them at His feet, and trust His plan. As Hannah found peace before receiving her miracle, you, too, can experience peace today, knowing that God is working behind the scenes. Guard your heart and mind with His peace, and let His promises sustain you through every challenge.
 

Prayer: Let There Be Inner Peace – Guarding My Heart and Mind

Heavenly Father,

I come before You today, just as Hannah did, pouring out my heart and laying every burden, worry, and desire at Your feet. You are my refuge and strength, and I trust You to hear me and answer in Your perfect time. Lord, I declare, let there be peace in my heart and mind, even in the midst of life’s uncertainties.

Your Word in Philippians 4:6-7 assures me that when I surrender my worries in prayer and thanksgiving, Your peace will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. So, I choose today to cast my anxieties upon You, trusting that You care for me and will work all things together for my good (1 Peter 5:7; Romans 8:28).

I declare, let there be peace in every area where fear, doubt, or frustration has taken root. I silence every voice of worry and anxiety in the name of Jesus, and I invite Your Spirit to fill me with calm, confidence, and assurance. Lord, Your peace surpasses all understanding, and I rest in the truth that You are in control.

Help me, Father, to guard my heart and mind by meditating on Your promises. Your Word says in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You.” Keep me steadfast, Lord, trusting in Your love, wisdom, and faithfulness.

I declare, let there be peace over every situation that feels unresolved. Let Your peace reign in my family, my relationships, my health, and my circumstances. As I surrender my burdens, I choose to replace worry with gratitude, thanking You for all You have done and for what You are yet to do.

Father, I rest in Your presence, confident that Your plans for me are good (Jeremiah 29:11). I trust Your timing, just as Hannah did, and I receive the peace that comes from knowing You are always working behind the scenes for my good and Your glory.

Thank You, Lord, for Your peace that guards my heart and mind. I declare it over my life, and I receive it with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.

Amen.
 

Conclusion

Peace is a gift from God, a treasure available to all who trust in Him. This weekend, we have journeyed through powerful reminders of God’s ability to calm every storm, restore broken relationships, and provide inner peace through surrender and trust in Him. As we meditate on these truths and apply them to our lives, may we embrace His peace that transcends understanding and allows us to walk confidently, knowing He is with us.

Whether you are facing a raging storm, strained relationships, or inner turmoil, God invites you to cast your cares upon Him and receive His peace. Remember, peace is not the absence of challenges but the presence of Jesus in every moment of your life. As we move forward, let us hold fast to His promises and declare boldly: “Let there be peace!”


Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the assurance of peace that comes through Your presence and promises. Thank You for reminding us that You are the One who calms storms, heals relationships, and gives us peace that guards our hearts and minds.

Lord, we declare Your peace over every storm, relationship, and situation in our lives. We command the winds and waves of life to be still in the name of Jesus. Let there be peace in our families, careers, finances, and health. Let Your peace reign in our hearts as we surrender our worries to You.

Help us to be peacemakers, bringing reconciliation and love wherever we go. Strengthen us to guard our hearts and minds with prayer, thanksgiving, and Your Word.

As we step into the week ahead, Lord, go before us and establish peace in every area of our lives. Thank You for being our refuge, our anchor, and our Prince of Peace. We rest in Your promises, knowing that You are always working for our good.
In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.


The Charge for the Week Ahead

This week, go forth as an ambassador of peace. Speak peace into every storm you encounter. Be intentional about bringing reconciliation to broken relationships, and guard your heart and mind with God’s Word. Remember, peace is not passive; it requires faith, trust, and action.

As you face the days ahead, carry this declaration with you:
“I will trust God in every storm. I will pursue peace in my relationships. I will surrender my worries and rest in God’s perfect peace.”

Let your life reflect the peace of Christ, and may His peace flow through you to those around you. Go in peace, and declare boldly: Let there be peace!

May your week be blessed beyond measure. Thank you for allowing me into your space. 

Blessed to do life with you 

Pastor Tee