A Beautiful Refuge: The Peace of God Bible (NKJV) Review
Thomas Nelson & Jeremiah Johnston partner for the Peace of God Bible
If there was ever a time our hearts needed peace, it’s now. The Peace of God Bible, edited by Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston, isn’t just another study Bible—it’s a thoughtfully designed companion that helps readers trace the profound theme of peace throughout all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.
More Than a Theme—A Journey
What makes this Bible special is how it reveals peace as the central story of Scripture: peace lost and peace restored through Christ. The book introductions help you see how peace plays a vital role in each section of the Bible, transforming familiar passages into a cohesive narrative of God’s redemptive work. Once you start reading with this lens, you notice it everywhere—God has been offering restoration and wholeness from the very beginning.
Daily Devotions That Ground You
The 365 daily devotionals are the heart of this Bible. Each devotion is based on key Scripture verses and connects God’s Word to everyday life in a way that feels calm and encouraging, never rushed or complicated. Whether you’re reading in the quiet of morning or winding down before bed, these reflections meet you where you are.
Accompanying each devotion is a “Peace Note”—short, powerful insights that help you pause and think. My favorite so far reminds us: “When Scripture and your feelings disagree, first bring Scripture’s truth over your life, and then start walking in the direction of Scripture. Let your emotions catch up.” These notes remind you who you are in Christ and help you approach daily life from a place of wholeness rather than anxiety.
Practical Features for Study
Beyond the devotionals, this Bible includes several features that make it useful for deeper study:
- Topical indexes organized by both subject and book make it easy to trace how God’s peace shapes relationships and daily living
- Articles scattered throughout explore what the peace of God actually is, how to find or recover it when life has worn you thin, and how to experience eternal salvation
- A concise concordance and cross-references for when you want to dig deeper
- End-of-page translators’ notes add helpful context
The devotionals are thoughtfully indexed both by topic and by date, so you can either follow the daily sequence or study thematically and date them as you complete them.
Design and Quality
This is a genuinely beautiful Bible. The line-matched, double-column layout keeps the pages clean and readable, while sections on peace are highlighted in a soft, peaceful blue—like a visual exhale for your soul. The 9.5-point NKJV Comfort Print® is remarkably clear and easy on the eyes (though those with significant vision challenges may find it challenging).
The Leathersoft™ edition features a gorgeous embossed mountain scene on the cover that’s soft, smooth, and easy to hold—perfect for couch reading. The gilded edges add elegance, and the two ribbon bookmarks are incredibly practical (one for your devotion, one for your reading place, or one for the Topical Index).
The binding feels substantial without being too heavy to carry to church or Bible study. The pages are standard thin Bible pages, but they handle pen well—minimal ghosting with fine-point pens up to a Pigma Micron 03. There are also three full-color maps in the back.
Who This Bible Is For
The Peace of God Bible would make a thoughtful gift for someone navigating anxious or uncertain times, or for anyone whose soul feels stretched thin. It’s also perfect for anyone who loves the New King James Version and wants a fresh way to read through Scripture with intentionality.
Published by Thomas Nelson and available in hardcover or Leathersoft™, this edition is made to last and become a trusted daily companion.
Final Thoughts
This Bible reminds us that peace isn’t the absence of problems, but the presence of God in the middle of them. It’s not about surface serenity—it’s about experiencing life as God always intended: complete, restored, and connected. Peace isn’t something we chase; it’s something we cultivate by anchoring ourselves in God’s truth.
If your heart’s been craving calm or you’re looking for a new devotional companion, The Peace of God Bible is more than just reading—it’s a gentle guide back to still waters and a daily reminder of the wholeness we were meant to live in.
“If I were to describe the story of the Bible in a single word, I would use the word – peace,” says, Dr. Johnston, pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church. “The concept of living in the peace of God appears nearly 600 times in Scripture, even more frequently than faith, love, and grace. It is God’s will for every believer to experience His constant peace, to flourish moment-by-moment, even in the midst of adversity and affliction.”
A daily reading Bible with dated devotions, the Peace of God Bible offers insight into the peace God provides and teaches readers how they can experience it in their lives. It includes hundreds of notes and introductions to every book, highlighting this topic’s presence in the text.
“I’ve known Jeremiah for several years and was excited to learn of the work he’s done to teach on this key biblical topic,” said Philip Nation, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Thomas Nelson. “This Bible will be an invaluable resource for generations because of Jeremiah’s ability to take the reader by the hand and teach them the discipline of God’s peace through the lens of the realities they face.”
Trusted by millions of believers around the world, the New King James Version (NKJV) is a bestselling modern “word-for-word” biblical translation. It balances the literary beauty and familiarity of the King James tradition with an extraordinary commitment to preserving the grammar and structure of the underlying biblical languages. While the translator’s relied on the traditional Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic text used by the translators of the 1611 King James Version (KJV), the comprehensive translator notes offer important insights about the latest developments in biblical manuscript studies.
About Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD
Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, (MDX, Oxford, UK) is the author of several books including Unanswered, Unimaginable, and Unleashing Peace. He serves as an Associate Pastor of Apologetics & Cultural Engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX, and Dean of Spiritual Development at Prestonwood Christian Academy. Johnston also ministers internationally as the president of the Christian Thinkers Society.
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