Do you remember lying awake at night when you were younger, worried about bills, children, or work?
And now, years later, do you still lie awake—but worrying about different things? Health problems. Loneliness. Wondering what tomorrow will bring. The worries change, but our need for peace stays the same.
Story & Life Review Connection
I sat with Margaret, a woman in her late 80s, who told me about the hard times she’d survived: the Depression, her husband’s long illness, raising children with almost no money, losing friends, and facing her own health problems.
“Chaplain,” she said quietly, “I’ve been through so much. You’d think I’d have peace figured out by now.” Her hands shook slightly as she folded them in her lap. “But some days, I still feel restless inside.”
I asked her to tell me about one time when God brought her peace during those hard years. Her face softened. She remembered a morning during her husband’s illness when she felt completely overwhelmed. She walked outside, and a bird landed on the fence right in front of her. For just a moment, everything felt still. “It was like God said, ‘I’m here. I see you.’”
That’s what peace is—not having no trouble, but having God with you in the middle of trouble.
Looking back over your life, you’ve survived more than you sometimes remember. And in each season, even the hardest ones, God’s peace was there. Not always loud. Not always obvious. But it was there—a quiet anchor when everything else was shaking.
Scripture
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27
Biblical Insight
Jesus said these words to His disciples just before He died on the cross—one of the most troubled moments in history. He didn’t promise them easy times. He promised them His presence. His peace doesn’t depend on everything going right. It’s based on the truth that He is with us, no matter what.
The peace Jesus offers is different from what the world offers. The world says, “Fix your problems, then you’ll have peace.” Jesus says, “I am your peace, no matter what your problems are.”
Wisdom
“God is more truly near to us than our troubles are.”
– Charles Spurgeon: ¹
“To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men.”
– A.W. Tozer: ²
Key Truths
- 🕊️ Peace is not having no trouble—it’s having God with you in trouble
- 🌊 You’ve survived every hard season before because His peace carried you through
- ⚓ The same God who steadied you then is steadying you now
Reflection Question
Can you remember a moment—maybe years ago—when God’s peace met you in an unexpected way during a hard time? That same peace is still available to you today.
Prayer
Lord, I admit that some days my heart still feels restless, even after all these years. Remind me that Your peace isn’t something I earn—it’s something You give. Calm the worried places in my soul. Let me rest in the truth that You have carried me through every storm before, and You will carry me through whatever comes next. Fill me with the peace that only You can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Practice
Sit quietly for three minutes.
Place your hand over your heart.
With each breath, whisper, “You are with me.”
Let that simple truth sink into your soul.
Suggested Music
Hymn: “It Is Well With My Soul” — When peace like a river attendeth my way
Footnotes:
¹ Charles Spurgeon, “The Nearness of God,” sermon preached at Metropolitan Tabernacle
² A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”