I’ve been thinking about peace quite a bit lately. I know many are sending their kids back to school. Others are sending off their students to college for the first time. It’s easy to allow anxiety to tangle up our thinking.
How do we discover peace while letting go? How do we allow peace to rule in the midst of chaos?
According to the Apostle Paul, we’re “called to peace” (Colossians 3:15). Isn’t that phrase intriguing? Have you ever considered that a part of your calling is peace? I know—right? It’s pretty staggering to consider. As a person who has battled anxiety, that phrase gives me pause. If it’s part of my calling, I need to discover the tools to enjoy God’s peace. As I’ve been thinking on this, I’ve recognized a few tools that have helped me, and I believe they’ll help you as well:
Tool #1 – Prayer. When Paul calls us to a life of peace, he’s not calling us to fake it till we make it. He’s not saying, “Pretend everything is great and peace will guard your heart.” No. God is truth. He calls us to deal with our anxieties with honesty. What remains in the dark can’t be healed. If, on the other hand, we honestly pour out our hearts to Jesus, telling Him exactly how we feel, He can take our worries and exchange them for His grace. Prayer is where we do this. We cultivate honesty in our relationship with God, and we learn how to pour out our hearts before Him. There in prayer, the Holy Spirit soothes our hearts and transforms anxiety into peace.
Tool #2 – Scripture. Learn to have some emergency verses for the times when you feel anxious. Some of my favorites are Psalm 46, Psalm 27, Ephesians 3:14–21, and Philippians 4:8. Having several go-to scriptures that you can claim and pray out loud will calm your anxiety.
Tool #3 – Gratitude. Cultivating a continual attitude of gratitude lowers blood pressure and quiets stomach ulcers. As we thank God for the beauty around us, His goodness, and the great gifts He gives us, our brain chemistry literally changes, and we’re much more able to dwell in peace (1 Thessalonians 5:18). A great practice is to spend a few quiet moments in the evening before bed, thanking God for the moments of your day. Even on the days that were less than the best, you can find something to give thanks for. You might thank Him for His presence or His comfort. All I know is that nothing quiets anxiety quite like gratitude and praise.
Tool #4 – Rest. You can’t be governed by peace if you go nonstop 24/7. I know—I’ve tried. Rest is a part of God’s plan for our lives. I heard an interesting podcast recently that suggested that in order to give your brain recovery time, you need 15 minutes per day of sitting in silence with absolutely no technology to simply daydream. Supposedly, if you do this, your creativity will begin to soar again. If we’re going to allow peace to rule in our hearts, we need to create the space for creative rest.
Tool #5 – Exercise. When I sent my daughter off to college, I missed her terribly and worried a lot. I learned the power of walking every day. As I walked, I prayed. Walking releases endorphins and helps calm anxious thoughts. When you combine walking and prayer, it’s a win-win! Why don’t you give it a try this week when anxiety comes knocking?
Peace can feel challenging. Try some of these tools and see if they don’t help. I’m praying for you that the Lord of peace Himself will give you peace at all times and in every way (1 Thessalonians 3:16).
Purchase Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in A Lonely World here.
Comments are closed.