If we only measured the world’s peace by the headlines we read, then you’d be right: The world doesn’t seem to be getting any better, and our prayers for peace seemingly go unanswered.

But this isn’t the whole story — not at all. For one thing, have you ever asked yourself what the world might be like if we didn’t pray for peace? I have no doubt that it would be torn by even more conflict and war. Evil is held back when we pray, and even if we can’t measure the impact of our prayers for peace, God still hears them and answers them. One reason the Bible commands us to pray for our world and its leaders is so “we may live peaceful and quiet lives” (1 Timothy 2:2).

The Bible reminds us also that God is ultimately in control of the world. Evil and Satan are real, and we need to take them seriously. But God is sovereign, and although the struggle between God and Satan will continue until Christ returns, some day the final battle will be fought — and God will be the winner. The Bible reminds us that He alone “brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing” (Isaiah 40:23).

Pray for peace; our world desperately needs it. But pray, too, that people everywhere will come to know God’s peace in their hearts, as they open their lives to Christ’s life-changing power. Does His love and peace rule in your heart?