Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
— Romans 3:14-19
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
— Romans 3:23-25
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
— Romans 7:5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
— Romans 5:1-2
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
— Galatians 5:24
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
— 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
— Romans 6:12
Precautions Against False Peace Do Not Speak Peace to Yourself Before God Speaks It, by John Owen. The following contains Chapter Thirteen of his work, “Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, The Necessity, Nature and Means of It: With a Resolution of Sundry Cases of Conscience Thereunto Belonging” — Abridged and Simplified.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
— Romans 8:13
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
— Isaiah 57:21
When God troubles your heart over sin—whether its presence in your life or its outbursts—do not rush to comfort yourself before He does. Wait to hear what He says to your soul. This is a critical safeguard against the deceitfulness of sin, for there is no greater danger than self-deception in spiritual matters.
It is a sobering reality that many deceive their own souls, pronouncing peace over themselves when God has not done so. Scripture repeatedly warns us to examine ourselves carefully to avoid this deadly mistake. The great danger of self-deception is that it leads a person to bless themselves in direct opposition to God’s judgment. The goal here is not to dwell on the dangers but to equip believers with the means to discern whether they are falsely comforting themselves.
God Alone Gives True Peace
It is God’s sovereign prerogative to extend grace to whom He wills. He calls, justifies, and sanctifies as He pleases. In the same way, among those He has called and justified, He alone retains the right to grant peace in the measure He desires. He is the God of all comfort, the one who alone can truly calm a troubled conscience.
In Isaiah 57, God declares that when He heals and restores, it is entirely His work: “I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near” (Isa. 57:19). This means that even in the lives of His people, the timing and extent of spiritual peace remain under His sovereign control.
Just as God sovereignly grants saving grace, often in ways that defy human expectations, so also does He distribute peace and joy in the Christian life. It does not always come in the ways or at the times we might expect.
Christ Himself is the one who truly speaks peace to the conscience. When addressing the self-deceived church in Laodicea, He takes the title,“I am the Amen, the faithful and true witness” (Rev. 3:14). He alone sees and testifies to the reality of our spiritual condition. We may deceive ourselves with false assurances or unnecessary fears, but Christ, the faithful witness, judges our condition as it truly is.
God does not judge according to outward appearances, as we so often do. He does not make His assessment based on feelings, self perception, or the external signs we may lean on. Instead, His judgment is based on absolute truth. Therefore, we must look to Him alone for assurance, resisting the temptation to declare peace over our own souls before He does.
True Peace Comes with True Repentance
Do Not Speak Peace to Yourself Without Deep Hatred for Sin
One clear sign that a person is falsely comforting themselves is when they seek peace without a deep and sincere hatred for the sin that has troubled them. If you come under conviction of sin and turn to Christ, looking to His blood and promises for peace, yet your heart does not burn with loathing for the sin that wounded you, then you are merely healing yourself with false assurances.
True healing and peace from God are always accompanied by godly sorrow and a detestation of sin. When true repentance occurs, as Zechariah 12:10 describes, the sinner “looks upon Him whom they have pierced and mourns.” The believer does not merely seek comfort but experiences brokenness before God, seeing sin as the grievous thing that crucified the Savior. Peace that lacks this element of deep contrition is a superficial remedy—it covers the wound without healing it.
God’s Peace Leads to Self-Abhorrence, Not Self Justification
Scripture shows that when God truly speaks peace to a person, it leads them to greater humility and hatred of their sin. When God assured Job of His favor, Job responded,”I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). His peace did not come simply from knowing about God’s grace, but from a deep awareness of his own unworthiness. Likewise, the apostle Paul describes true godly sorrow as producing “indignation, fear, longing, and revenge” against sin (2 Cor. 7:11).
Many seek peace in Christ but secretly hold onto their sin. They confess their faults, seek comfort in the promises of the gospel, and for a time feel relieved. But if they do not detest and forsake the sin that troubled them, their peace will not last. God does not grant peace to a soul that clings to sin. When peace comes without a willingness to part with sin, it is self-deception. The heart may be soothed for a moment, but the unaddressed root of sin will continue to corrode and reemerge with greater force.
A person may struggle with worldly desires and seek relief from the guilt it causes, but if they do not genuinely hate their love for the world, they will find no lasting peace. A false peace may linger for a season, but ultimately, they will remain weak, restless, and spiritually sick (Isa. 57:17). Many have an appearance of deep sorrow and confession before God, yet they secretly make room in their hearts for the very sin they claim to be repenting of. Such peace is fragile—it dissolves as quickly as it came because it is built on false grounds.
If you would have true peace, then pursue true repentance. Hate your sin, turn from it fully, and seek Christ not only for forgiveness but for cleansing. Only then will your peace be real and lasting.
False Peace and the Danger of Self-Made Comfort
Many people, when convicted of sin, try to comfort themselves by applying peace to their own souls without truly seeking it from God. A man who has sinned and feels the weight of conviction begins to reflect on what he must do. He knows that God’s promises bring comfort and healing, so he searches the Scriptures, finds a verse that seems to fit his condition, and tells himself,“God has spoken peace to me in this promise.” Without waiting on God or seeking confirmation from the Spirit, he assumes he is forgiven and at peace.
But this is a dangerous mistake. The Spirit of God alone is the one who “convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). When a person applies peace to themselves without the Spirit’s work, they are relying on their own reasoning rather than on the life-giving power of God. It is possible to be intellectually convinced of the truth of God’s mercy while never experiencing the true peace that only He can give. True peace does not come merely from reading the right promise but from God Himself speaking peace to the soul.
How Can We Tell If Our Peace is From God?
A natural question arises: How do we know whether we have spoken peace to ourselves or whether the Spirit has truly granted it? Consider these signs:
1. Self-made peace is rushed; God’s peace requires waiting. Those who manufacture peace for themselves are often impatient. They want immediate relief and are unwilling to wait on God. The prophet Isaiah says,“I will wait upon the Lord, who hides His face” (Isaiah 8:17). Those who truly seek peace from God must learn to wait in humility until He speaks.
2. Self-made peace quiets the mind but does not change the heart. When God speaks peace, it is “the peace that surpasses understanding” (Philippians 4:7). It does not simply remove anxiety; it transforms the heart and fills it with love for God. If your peace does not lead to greater holiness, deeper love, and hatred for sin, it is not from God.
3. Self-made peace does not endure. When a person grants themselves peace, it often lasts only until the next trial or temptation. Then the old fears and guilt return because the root issue was never truly dealt with. But when God speaks peace, it brings lasting assurance.
4. Self-made peace does not lead to repentance. True peace leads to a hatred of sin and a turning away from it. “He speaks peace to His people, but let them not turn back to folly” (Psalm 85:8). If a person claims to have peace but continues to indulge in the same sins, they have deceived themselves.
If you have granted yourself peace but find that it does not bring lasting joy, hatred for sin, and a deeper love for God, do not settle for it. Seek the Lord, wait upon Him, and let Him speak peace in His own way and time.
True and False Peace: How to Know the Difference
Many people, when troubled by sin, try to heal their own wounds by speaking peace to themselves instead of waiting for God to do so. But how can we tell the difference between self-made peace and the true peace that God gives?
1. False Peace Will Not Last If you are trying to comfort yourself without God’s intervention, He will soon make it clear. He has promised to guide the humble in His ways (Psalm 25:9) and will not allow His children to remain deceived.
If your peace is not from God, it will not endure. It may quiet your mind for a time, but when the next temptation arises, the peace will vanish, leaving you just as troubled as before.
2. False Peace Comes Without Waiting on God
True peace requires waiting on God. Though He sometimes grants immediate comfort, as He did for David (1 Samuel 24:5), His usual way is to teach His children patience. Isaiah 8:17 says,“I will wait upon the Lord, who hides His face.” God often requires us to remain at His door, humbling ourselves in repentance, rather than rushing to declare ourselves forgiven.
Those who create their own peace do not wait for God’s timing. They are in a hurry to feel better, so they grab hold of a promise without waiting for the Spirit to apply it. But true peace comes from God in His own time and way.
3. False Peace Does Not Bring True Joy
Even if false peace temporarily soothes the mind, it does not bring the deep joy and satisfaction that God’s peace does. When God speaks peace, it is not just an intellectual assurance—it refreshes the heart and fills the soul with rest (Psalm 116:7). But when we try to comfort ourselves without His presence, the best we can achieve is a surface-level calm that lacks the sweetness of true communion with God.
4. False Peace Does Not Lead to Change
The greatest danger of false peace is that it does not break the power of sin. When God speaks peace, He also gives strength to turn away from sin. “He speaks peace to His people, but let them not return to folly” (Psalm 85:8). If your so-called peace does not lead you to hate sin and walk in greater holiness, then it is not from God.
Self-made peace often encourages further backsliding. If, after claiming peace, you feel more emboldened to sin rather than more devoted to righteousness, it is a sure sign that your peace is not from God. When the Holy Spirit grants peace, it comes with a sense of God’s love and a renewed commitment to obedience.
The Test of True Peace
If your peace is from God, it will be marked by patience, deep joy, transformation, and a turning away from sin. But if it is self-made, it will be fleeting, shallow, and leave you vulnerable to further failure. Do not settle for a peace that you create yourself—wait on the Lord, and let Him speak peace to your soul in His time.
True and False Peace: Discerning the Difference
Many seek peace for their souls, but not all peace is from God. Sometimes, we deceive ourselves by speaking peace when God has not spoken. This kind of false peace can lead to complacency and spiritual danger. How do we know whether the peace we feel is truly from God?
1. False Peace Is Superficial
The prophet Jeremiah rebuked those who “healed the wound of my people lightly” (Jer. 6:14). Some people deal with their troubled consciences in a shallow manner. A quick glance at a promise of mercy and a momentary feeling of relief are enough for them. But this is not true healing. The Word of God must be mixed with faith and truly absorbed into the soul. If peace is obtained too quickly, without deep reflection and genuine heart change, the wound will reopen. A man who rushes into comfort without true repentance will soon find himself troubled again.
2. False Peace Ignores Some Sins While Addressing Others
If a person seeks peace for one sin while ignoring another equally serious sin, that peace is not from God. For example, a man may feel guilt over neglecting prayer and find peace by confessing it, but if he harbors greed, pride, or lust without addressing them, his peace is false. True peace comes when there is a sincere desire to obey all of God’s commands, not just those that trouble our conscience at the moment. God forgives sin, but He does not excuse even the smallest sin in us.
3. False Peace Lacks Humility
When God truly grants peace, it humbles the soul. Consider David— when Nathan assured him of God’s forgiveness, David was deeply broken and repentant (2 Samuel 12:13). A self-made peace, however, often lacks humility. If a person feels relief without being deeply moved by the mercy of God, without being softened and melted in gratitude, then that peace is likely self-imposed rather than Spirit given.
4. True Peace Comes When God Speaks It
When can a person take comfort in God’s promises? The answer is simple: when God speaks peace. He may do so immediately, even at the moment of sin, or He may lead the soul through a time of waiting. But whenever He speaks, the soul must receive it with faith. The greatest hindrance to true peace is unbelief—the fear that keeps us from accepting the full comfort of God’s forgiveness.
True peace does not come from our reasoning or selective application of God’s promises. It comes from His voice, confirmed by His Spirit. When He speaks, it brings deep humility, obedience, and lasting joy. Do not settle for a false peace that soothes the conscience while leaving sin untouched. Seek the peace that flows from true communion with God.
Recognizing When God Speaks Peace
You may ask,“How can I tell when God truly speaks peace to my soul?” This is an important question because false peace leads to self deception, but true peace brings real healing and transformation.
1. A Heart That Recognizes His Voice
When God speaks peace, true faith instinctively knows His voice. Jesus said,“My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:4). Those who walk closely with Him, who have learned His ways through communion and fellowship, will recognize when He speaks. Just as a child knows the voice of his father, so believers, through experience and practice, learn to distinguish the voice of Christ from all other voices.
In Song of Solomon 5:2, the bride was spiritually sluggish, yet as soon as her beloved called, she immediately recognized his voice. Likewise, when Christ speaks to our souls, it is unlike any other voice—it carries weight, authority, and sweetness. When the disciples walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they later realized that their hearts “burned within them” as He spoke (Luke 24:32). This is how His voice works in the believer’s heart—it stirs, awakens, and moves us toward Him.
2. The Effect of His Words
Another way to discern if God is speaking peace is to examine its effect on the soul. God’s true peace does not merely quiet the conscience—it humbles, cleanses, and strengthens us for obedience. If a supposed peace allows us to remain comfortable in sin or makes us careless about holiness, it is not from God. The peace that Christ gives leads to greater love for Him, self-emptiness, and a deeper desire for obedience.
True peace comes with a sanctifying power. It does not simply silence fear, but it draws the heart into greater dependence on God. “Do not my words do good to him that walks uprightly?” (Micah 2:7). If peace humbles us, melts our hearts, and binds us closer to Christ, it is from Him. But if it is shallow, temporary, or leaves us unchanged, we must question whether it is truly from the Lord.
Final Warning:
Without carefully discerning the voice of Christ, sin will take advantage of our tendency toward self-deception and harden our hearts. False peace will let sin fester beneath the surface. True peace, however, is given by Christ Himself, and when it comes, it brings real transformation and lasting rest for the soul.
So, test your peace. Does it humble you? Does it draw you nearer to Christ? Does it lead to greater holiness? If so, it is the voice of the Good Shepherd, calling His sheep into His rest.
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