How is 2025 going for you? Have you encountered problems yet? And if you have, do you have peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of life’s problems? That seems like a tall order, right? Perhaps we buy the lie that we cannot have peace in turmoil. But peace is a gift and a choice.
Peace that Surpasses Problems
Last week I went to gaze at our Christmas tree because I was just not ready to say goodbye to it, but it had already fallen to the floor.
Two birds flew in our door, and in our efforts to get them out peacefully, we must have destabilized our tree. My youngest son thought someone had knocked it down, lol, but a little bird had disturbed its peace.
Needless to say, this made for quick work of putting up the decorations because water from the tree stand had spilled on the floor.
There ya have it. The Christmas season is over.
But it got me thinking about how one small wren who nestled gently in the tree’s branches could make such a mess. Now, you might say it was the clumsy people trying to get the bird out, and you would have a point there, too.
First it was a small bird…then it was our sad attempts to remove said bird that ultimately felled the tree in the middle of the night.
And we did not hear the tree fall at all.
Peace that Surpasses Emotions
I wonder if we are aware when proverbial trees fall in our lives, silently robbing us of peace?
One moment, we are peaceful, then the next, anxiety-ridden. What if we were to handle the little distraction threatening to steal our peace differently?
Like little birds in our lives, problems arise, flittering and fluttering their way in. At first, we might not be so bothered. But when the problems (birds) remain, we can lose focus. We become engrossed and completely fixated on ending the problem, not realizing our mindset has shifted.
Peace that Surpasses the World’s Understanding
Can we still have peace that surpasses understanding when the problems remain? Or is our peace dependent on the absence of problems?
Recent problems I have encountered have threatened to rob me of peace until I saw these problems as being held by Jesus. When I released the control I thought I had and chose to trust that God is big enough to handle the messes that surround me, I realized that peace was a choice and a gift.
Christ came to give us peace—not on this earth (Matthew 10:34–36), but in our hearts and minds, no matter what is going on in this crazy world.
“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, NIV).
This is a promise—even if it does not make sense to me. My understanding is not God’s and God’s thoughts are higher.
Peace that Surpasses this Life
Christ’s peace is not dependent upon anything in this world and is available to all who call on Him and believe in Him for salvation. The peace Christ gives us lasts past this life and sustains us through this life. But we must choose it and walk in it.
Christ invites us to find the peace He offers by choosing to believe He has us and this whole world in His capable hands. Even when things don’t go our way and the world seems against us, we don’t have to dwell in our circumstances. We can rise above them.
Peace that Surpasses Our Enemies
I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago keenly aware of conflict and feeling anxiety pulsing through my veins. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to me: “Do not panic.” Sounds simple. We might laugh when we first hear that as if we are not capable of choosing not to fear and of choosing peace. But David showed us how.
David knew what it was like to have enemies. I do, too. Sometimes we can be surprised where our enemies come from. We don’t expect it to be our own family or Christians, but the Bible says that will happen (Luke 21:16–18). Even this does not have to rob us of peace. Take it from David.
Psalm 3
Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.”
Finding Peace that Surpasses My Understanding
Understanding is a tricky thing. We can think we have understanding but our own minds deceive us (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9). Christ’s peace transcends our human understanding. Proverbs 3:5–6 advises us to not “depend” on our understanding.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
We are robbed of peace when we rely on our own thoughts. We are robbed of peace when we allow shame to define us. If we will seek His will even in what seems crazy to us, God will show us how to walk through it in His peace.
Friend, God is your shield. Whatever you are going through, God wants to give you peace. Christ walked through everything we walked through, and yet He had peace. We can, too. Lay down your burden and pick up His cross. Christ will help you bear it. Don’t give in to the fear of man or the fear of problems. Jesus loves you and is praying for you (John 17:9-10; Romans 8:34).
Jesus is enough—for you and your problems. And for mine, too. Choose His peace and crack that smile on your face. It is miraculous that we can rise above. Join me, won’t you? Pray this prayer with me:
Lord, I am overwhelmed with _______(fill in the blank). Help me to trust you and to let this go. Renew my mind with Your promises and help me to rise above _________. I choose Your peace and Your promises that are incapable of failing. I choose Your grace that helps me to reframe my pain in light of eternity. You won and overcame and so will I.
Mindset Hack of the Week
As I share when I travel and speak, anxiety is a 100% proposition. You and I will experience it in this life and fallen world. The question is HOW will we encounter anxiety?
The mindset hack this week is a reminder to choose peace no matter what is going on around us and it seems crazy to do so. Love you, friends, and I pray you can have peace that surpasses understanding.
All for Jesus,
Denise