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The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

There are so many things that can keep us from enjoying peace—stress over school, money, friends, the future, conflict with parents. Any one of these can lead us to panic and frustration, which leaves us craving escape and freedom. Thankfully, we're not the only ones who have this desire for peace. God wants it for us, too.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

What does it mean to trust God like this? How is it possible to be so confident in him that no matter what happens, you aren't thrown into a panic?

First of all, to trust anyone you have to know them. You have to see proof that they can, in fact, be trusted. That may not seem so simple when it comes to God. He may appear pretty unreachable. But the truth is, he wants you to know him and longs for you to trust him. That's why he came up with a whole plan for the process.

God sent his Son Jesus to Earth so that the barrier between us and God might be broken. The barrier was our sin, which basically made us God's enemies. But Jesus' death on the cross settled the score because he took the punishment we deserved for our sin. Belief in Jesus and what he did for us is the key that opens the door to peace and a relationship with God. Then our understanding of him grows as we read his Word and talk with him in prayer. That's how we begin to see that he really wants what's best for us. And the more we become convinced of that, the harder it will be to shake us—and our peace.

1. What are some things that make it hard for you to trust God?
2. Ask some older Christians to give you examples of how they're learning to trust God. Write them down. Then think of some of your own.
3. Ask God to help you trust in him so that no matter what happens you'll be at peace.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Without a doubt, there are people in your life who just rub you the wrong way. It may be as minor as the way your sister eats her cereal in the morning or as severe as the school bully who taunts you at your locker. People who bother you can easily disrupt your peace if you let them. So what's the solution?

With things like your sibling's annoying habits, one of the first steps is to realize the root of your irritation. Why does it bother you that you can hear her crunching her Froot Loops? Or why do you care so much that your brother borrowed your CD?

Consider these words from Philippians 2:3-4: " … But in humility consider others as better than yourself. Each one of you should look not only to his own interests but to the interests of others." When you criticize the way your sister eats, is it because you think you're better than her? When you don't want to let your brother borrow a CD, whose interests are you most concerned with?

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