Jesus, in the upper room of a Jerusalem home, on the eve of his crucifixion, promised his apostles: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." (John 14:27). The peace of Jesus is a distinctive peace.  

The apostle Paul, in a letter penned to his friends of the church at Philippi, testified that the peace of Jesus "transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). The peace of Jesus is a distinctive, transcendent, peace.  

To the Christians in Rome, Paul wrote, "SInce we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). The peace of Jesus is a distinctive, transcendent, peace that is rooted in relationship with the Father.

The distinctive, transcendent peace of Jesus is multifaceted, or "peace by piece"...  

We can only know peace

in our relationships with other men and women 

when we know peace within;

we can only know peace within

when we know peace with God.

In fact, when a troubled disciple of Jesus comes to me in the midst of turmoil and asks for counsel, my first question is always: "How's your relationship with God?" 

So, is there turmoil within your heart and mind? Among your relationships? Then, inquire of yourself, "How's my relationship with the Father? What does it look like? What might make it better?"

Further, because the distinctive, transcendent peace of Jesus is based upon the relationship of our spirit, rather than the circumstances of our flesh, "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation" can frustrate it (Romans 8:38).  

Consequently, Paul--a man who faced his share of adversity (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:4-5)--was empowered to testify, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11). Similarly, the prophet of Israel described the "can't-touch-this" peace of God:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Contemplate the truth and implication of Paul's words in Romans 8:4: "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace." What's the learning? Where's the place of "forwarding and deepening" for you?"