Do you have peace? Not the emotion of peace, but biblical peace—shalom, a place of rest and well-being that is complete, even when things around you are a mess?
This peace is theological; found only in Christ. It is the result of being aligned with the God of this universe. The world cannot produce this peace.
A Posture of Peace
The world’s definition of peace is the opposite of war, or an emotion based on…circumstances.
But biblical peace does not need perfect circumstances to thrive.🙌🏼
We can have a posture of peace because we know how the story will end.
I just returned from a women’s conference at Masanetta Springs, where we gathered around the theme:
Finding Peace in a Chaotic World
It was such a sweet and sacred time—women coming together, each carrying different burdens, yet all longing for the same thing: peace.
Over the weekend, we walked through four key areas where God invites us to experience His peace:
• Making Peace with God
• Making Peace with Your Posture
• Making Peace with Your People
• Making Peace with Your Problems
Each one matters deeply. But one in particular seemed to resonate in a profound way: Making Peace with Your People, based on my book Thick Skin, Soft Heart: Healing Our Broken Relationships Through the Mind of Christ, to be released early next year.
Making Peace in Your Relationships
Relationships are one of God’s greatest gifts…and one of our greatest refinements.
We all have difficult relationships. Jesus said we would (Luke 12:52–53). So if you are struggling in a relationship, friend, know that we all are.
It does not mean something is wrong with you. It’s easy to become super sensitive, thin-skinned, and hard-hearted in a divisive culture that built us that way.
Making Peace With Our Minds
Our mindset shapes our interpretation of conflicts, whether they become offenses or not, and the mind of Christ is the way out.
Most relationships don’t fail because people stop caring—they fail because we are unknowingly immersed in a culture of offense, and that culture is destroying relationships.
Broken relationships are not the problem—they reveal the problem: we don’t understand the nature of offense or how to handle it biblically.
But we don’t have to be stuck in that culture. God has given us answers to those relational woes.
Finding Peace Through Christ
Being in Christ doesn’t prevent conflict—it transforms how we face it.
We can respond by doing our part to extend peace.
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).
But we are not responsible for whether or not people return that peace.
In Christ things do not have to be resolved on this earth to be resolved in our hearts. He has overcome the world, and so can we. (John 16:33).
Finding Peace through Theology
Friends, division in relationships is best navigated not through psychology but through theology. God’s Word has given us everything we need to walk in healthy relationships.
The peace is not the absence of chaos.
It is the presence of Christ in the middle of it.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You, because they trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
Peace comes from where our minds rest.
If our minds stay on the chaos, we will feel the chaos.
If our minds stay on Christ, we can experience peace—even while the storm still rages.
Application
This week, identify one area of chaos in your life—whether internal (anxious thoughts) or external (a difficult situation or relationship). Instead of trying to control or resolve it immediately, intentionally bring it before the Lord each day. When your mind begins to spiral, pause and redirect your thoughts back to Him with a simple prayer: “Lord, I trust You here.” Let peace be something you practice, not just something you hope to feel.
Scripture Reflection
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” — John 14:27
Jesus offers a kind of peace that is not dependent on circumstances. It is not fragile. It is not temporary. It is rooted in His presence. When everything around us feels uncertain, His peace remains steady.
Closing Prayer
Lord, You see every place in our lives that feels unsettled, overwhelming, or uncertain. Thank You that Your peace is not dependent on our circumstances, but rooted in Your presence. Teach us to fix our minds on You when chaos rises, and to trust You more than what we see or feel. Quiet what is anxious within us, steady what feels shaken, and anchor our hearts in Your unchanging peace. In every moment, remind us that You are near—and that is enough. Amen.
Visit the ShameRx Blog for Recovering from Failed Relationships
All for Jesus,
Denise