[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
One of the toughest questions I encounter from friends who know I study scripture is, “How can I know I am doing God’s will?” My usual answer is that it will depend on a number of factors, but a good place to start is with Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. Here Paul gives believers a practical formula for decision-making: “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15–17 NLT).
However, I think many Christians fall short by applying only the first part of the phrase as a litmus test for decision-making. That is, if I feel peaceful, God must approve; if I feel unsettled, He must be warning me. But experience teaches us that feelings alone are not reliable guides. Sometimes what feels like peace is simply relief, excitement, or self-satisfaction about a choice we’ve already decided to make.
So how can we tell the difference?
Paul’s wording helps us. The “peace of Christ” is not just a pleasant inner calm. It is something that “rules” in our hearts. The Greek idea behind “rule” carries the sense of an umpire or referee—one who decides what is in bounds and what is not. Christ’s peace is not passive; it actively governs. It settles disputes in our hearts by aligning us with Him.
Paul’s advice continues, “For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Col. 3:15, NLT). This peace that comes from Christ is both relational and covenantal—it reflects harmony with Christ and with His body. It is less about personal comfort and more about spiritual alignment. The kind of peace Paul describes comes from being “bound” or “woven together” with Christ in unity. It flows from obedience and fellowship, not from self-approval.
That means not every tranquil feeling is the peace of Christ. Jonah, for example, likely felt a degree of relief boarding the ship to Tarshish—he had escaped Nineveh, or so he thought. But his calm was rooted in disobedience (Jonah 1). In stark contrast, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane experienced deep anguish, yet He was perfectly aligned with the Father’s will (see Luke 22:42–44). Clearly, emotional tranquility is not the ultimate test.
The real question is alignment: Does this decision agree with God’s revealed Word?
Paul answers that in the very next verse: “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives” (Col. 3:16, NLT). The peace of Christ rules where the Word of Christ lives and thrives. These are not separate ideas. God’s peace does not float freely from Scripture; it grows in the soil of biblical truth.
If we want to discern whether our sense of peace is genuinely from God, we must ask: • Does this decision reflect biblical principles? • Am I responding in humility, love, and obedience? • Am I acting out of faith—or merely preference?
Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NLT). Notice that God’s guidance is most often described as light, not lightning. It illuminates step by step. We may prefer an instant sign or an overwhelming emotional assurance, but God more often shapes our discernment gradually as we immerse ourselves in Scripture.
The wisdom of Proverbs echoes this: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NLT). Depending on our own understanding can feel peaceful—especially if our reasoning seems sound. But biblical peace comes from trusting God above our own instincts.
Paul then adds another safeguard: “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17 NLT). This provides a practical test. Can I do this openly as Christ’s representative? Can I sincerely thank Him for this direction? If gratitude flows naturally in prayer, it is often a sign that our choice is aligned with Him. But if we hesitate to bring the matter honestly before God, that hesitation may reveal something deeper than surface calm.
Building this kind of discernment takes time. We undoubtedly will wish for a quicker method—a formula to guarantee clarity. Yet God’s primary concern is not simply that we make correct choices, but that we become spiritually mature. As we consistently read His Word, meditate on it, and obey it, our thinking slowly begins to mirror His. “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT). That transformational process reshapes our instincts so that what aligns with Him increasingly “feels” right—not simply because of emotion, but because our hearts are being trained by truth.
Over time, Scripture forms a foundation beneath our decision-making. With God’s truth as our base, we can move forward confidently, not because everything feels easy, but because we know our choices are based on His revealed will. Then the peace of Christ truly acts as our referee, guarding our hearts and directing our path.
When our decisions are rooted in His Word, accompanied by gratitude, consistent with Christ’s character, and surrendered in prayer, the settledness we experience is not self-generated satisfaction. It is oneness with Him. And that peace does more than calm us—it keeps us in step with the Lord who leads us faithfully.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org