Where is Perfect Peace?

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Where is Perfect Peace? If the world is searched all over, can perfect peace be found? Before this question can be answered, it is essential to define perfect peace. In various religious contexts, perfect peace refers to an ideal state of comfort, tranquility, and harmony achieved through faith and trust in God. In the original Hebrew, perfect peace means “shalom shalom,” which presents completeness and perfection. Isaiah 26:3 declares that “You keep him in perfect peacewhose mind is stayed on you,because he trusts in you” (ESV). Isaiah points to God for a state of perfect peace. The principle behind this scripture is that if a mind is preoccupied with faith and trust in God, the cares of the world will not rob the person of comfort, tranquility, and harmony. A life with perfect peace is not the absence of trouble that comes into one’s life, but there is an all-encompassing sense of security, no matter what the trouble. The foundation of faith and trust in God is not shaken; rather, it is manifested amid cares and trouble. Can this type of perfect peace be found on earth?

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A biblical example that demonstrates the perfect peace of God in one’s life is that of Stephen. Stephen was introduced in Chapter 6 of the Book of Acts as one of the seven men chosen to be responsible for the daily distribution to widows – “serve tables.” Scripture says Stephen was "full of faith and the Holy Ghost” (Acts 6:8). Not much is written about Stephen, but Scripture does reveal his faith and trust in God. After Stephen was selected to serve tables, opposition arose against him because of his wisdom. His opponents used lies and secret strategies to stir up the people against him, and they accused him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses, God, the temple, and religious customs. Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin Council (Jewish Supreme Court) to answer the accusations. Instead of having a face that reflected fear or terror, Acts 6:15 says, “they saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”Stephen was in perfect peace because his cares and troubles did not shake the foundation of his faith and trust in God. Stephen was in a state of comfort, tranquility, and harmony, and he knew his life was in God's hands. In Acts 7, after presenting his defense, Stephen was dragged from the temple courtyard and stoned. Stephen died with a view of Jesus standing at God's right hand. As he fell asleep, he cried with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). Stephen's perfect peace was rooted in his relationship with God. He trusted that God knew what was best for him, and his faith was manifested when he became the first martyr for the gospel.

Peace that surpasses all understanding that will guard hearts and minds is promised by God in Philippians 4:7. This promise is needed when it is considered that Jesus promised that trouble and sufferings will come in John 16:33.Jesus’s reveals that there will be no life on earth without trouble and sufferings; however, life on earth can have peace if hearts and minds are kept by the Lord. In Psalm 23:4, David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (ESV). The walk through the valley is assured of God’s presence, which provides peace and security. God’s presence is a key component of the perfect peace, and trust in God is a requisite part of perfect peace. It can be surmised that if the world is searched over, perfect peace will not be found. Perfect peace is experienced by those who have faith and trust in God and live in his presence. Perfect peace is wherever God is, and wherever God is, there is perfect peace. Shalom! Shalom!​

Let the church say amen!

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Written by Dr. Pearlie Freeman

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February 2026

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