Do feelings of suspicion overwhelm when your relationships break down and you feel people might be against you? Where do such emotions come from?

Look around at our environment—the talk we hear and the feelings we have. It affects us every day and keeps us from being at peace.

In Romans 5:1 Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."

Peace with God. How much thought do you give to that? When I have problems keeping peace with others in my circle of friends I am bothered and will do what I can to restore peace. When you have to work with or socialize with others you want good friendly relationships that are open and filled with good will. To be at peace with people takes work.

Think about the level of anger, strife, hatred and division that exists in the world today. We see it all around us. Political division. Religious strife. Racial division. Look at any moment on television or the Internet and you can see so many examples.

Someone came to me once who was having emotional problems, and as we discussed it we came to one solution that did help. She turned off the talk radio she listened to on the commute to work and home each day. The argumentative, polarizing talk was causing her distress. Sometimes to find inner peace you have to remove yourself from the source of conflict.

How about you? Are you at peace?

Paul in this passage is showing how deep inner peace begins when we see we have in God a Father and in Jesus Christ a Brother. That changes our whole life. God desires a relationship with us. This desire is so strong that He sent His Son to carve out the path to share His glory. If we don't take the time to think about this biblical truth then we lack an anchoring focus toward God.

Paul goes on to say, "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory" (Romans 5:2, New Living Translation).

Once we enter a real relationship with God we have His favor and good will. He looks at us like a good father does to his son—with affection and love. We don't need to fear we might somehow be thrown out of the house if we are bad. God does not work that way. God is not abusive, and His favor toward His children is not turned on and off at whim.

Once we have been brought into God's presence through faith in Christ's sacrifice we stand in His grace. When you fully understand this truth you can have peace of mind no matter what happens in life.

Peace with God: Don’t take it for granted. It is the key to putting away anger.