The fruit of righteousness will be peace
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” — Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)
I've been reading through the Bible this year using The Bible Recap reading plan on the You Version App (I highly recommend this plan!) and recently have been reading the book of Isaiah. I came across this passage in Isaiah 32 and felt led to stop and mediate on it. Something about the idea of quietness and confidence felt like such a gift in the midst of my current chaotic, frenzied pace. I feel like I am constantly inundated online with stories of fear, worry and honestly, really sad and terrible things happening all over the globe. I also feel like there is too much to do with too little time to do it! Have you ever felt that way? In contrast, Isaiah 32:17 offers a profoundly counter cultural truth: Peace is not circumstantial; it is the fruit of righteousness.
This verse does not describe a fleeting calm or a temporary emotional lift—it speaks of a lasting state of being, grounded in God's justice and the transformative power of His kingdom. The “righteousness” Isaiah refers to is not self-made or earned through moral effort. It is covenantal—rooted in the character of God and made available to us through His redemptive work.
In the broader context of Isaiah 32, the prophet paints a vision of a future reign of justice, pointing forward to the Messianic hope fulfilled in Christ. In Him, the righteousness of God is revealed (Romans 3:21-22), and through union with Christ, believers are declared righteous.
This righteousness bears fruit—shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, which encompasses wholeness, harmony, and spiritual flourishing. The text adds that its “effect” is quietness and confidence forever. These are not superficial traits but signs of a soul anchored in God’s unshakable rule. Man, how I long for peace, quietness and confidence forever!
To live a righteous life, then, is to yield to the Spirit’s sanctifying work, to hunger for justice and mercy, and to walk in obedient trust, even when the culture around us promotes self-reliance and chaos. As we abide in Christ, the true vine, He produces in us what we cannot manufacture on our own: peace that surpasses understanding, a holy stillness in the storm, and bold assurance in the face of uncertainty. That’s what my restless, chaotic heart is really longing for - the true peace that comes from Christ.
