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.
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.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:1-5 NLT)
The immediate benefit of a personal relationship with Jesus is peace. It's a sense of harmony with God that remains within us, because we know things were made right between us and God.
A little child who is assured of the love and acceptance of her parents has both peace and joy—an inner contentment. And so it is for us as believers.
This peace and joy remains within us as we continue trusting in the Lord's grace given to us. This carries us through life's difficulties. We can endure these because of His grace at work in us—in our innermost being.
As this work continues in us, and as it develops endurance and character within us, we gain a hope that buoys us through the storms of life. How? Because God continues to pour out His love into our hearts through the presence of His indwelling Spirit.
Even as we mature as believers, we can experience a childlike contentment as God's children.
©Word-Strong_2015