How to Have Peace of Mind in Troubled Times

Scriptures: Luke 21:26, John 14:27, 2 Timothy 1:7

The Gift of Jesus’ Peace 

One of the greatest truths Jesus spoke to his disciples and to us is found in John 14:27, where He says: 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

It is interesting to note that the word “give” in the original Greek language is the word for a gift. This tells us that peace is a gift given to us by Jesus. He released it and it belongs to us; therefore, we can confidently lay claim to it by faith. 

“Peace,” which Jesus uses twice in this one verse, is a translation of a form of the Greek word that depicts the cessation of war or an end of conflict. Thus, if you are in the peace of Jesus, you are no longer at war in your mind and emotions. The conflict has ceased. The same word also signifies a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after war has ceased. This means that when you are experiencing the peace of Jesus, you are focused on rebuilding and reconstructing rather than on the problems you are facing. That is what peace powerfully enables you to do. 

This peace that Jesus has given to us as a gift also describes a time when distractions are removed, a time of prosperity, or a time when order rules in the place of chaos. It is a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct oneself peacefully even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be traumatic or upsetting. That doesn’t mean upsetting or traumatic circumstances aren’t happening in your life. It simply means that even if they are, you are still able to conduct yourself peacefully in the midst of it. 

Moreover, the Greek word for “peace” used here is the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. This means when you’re moving in peace, even if you’re surrounded by outward pressures and turbulent circumstances, you can be like an island of stability that is unaffected. My friend, the peace of Jesus is meant to dominate you and fill your entire life with shalom. It is His personal gift given to you and to every single believer. 

After informing us that He has gifted us His supernatural peace, Jesus goes on to say, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). 

The word for “heart” here is the Greek word which describes the center or core of your being or the center of human emotions. Hence, Jesus is telling us, “Don’t let the core of your being — your emotions — be troubled.” In this verse, the word “troubled” is a form of the Greek word which means to stir up, to be unsettled, to feel anxiety, to be inwardly moved and upset, or to be tossed back and forth. 

Make no mistake: When your emotions are stirred up, unsettled, and tossed back and forth, they will begin to take you downward and open the door to an assortment of negative emotions, all of which will try to pull you into the realm of fear. 

That is why Jesus instructed us not to be troubled or afraid. The Greek word Jesus used for “afraid” literally means to be cowardly, to live in dread, to shrink backward, or to move into retreat. It depicts a paralyzing fear that produces a shrinking back or cowardice. 

Friend, you simply cannot function dominated by fear and cowardice. God has things He needs you to do. You have people you need to take care of and a job you need to accomplish on the earth. You don’t have time to live in fear and dread or shrink back in retreat. Jesus doesn’t want you to be crippled or paralyzed by fear of any kind. That is why He gave us His very own peace to ensure us that no outward or inward turmoil would dominate our lives and move us from the place of faith in our wonderful God who loves and cares for us.

For Your Consideration:

1. When you listen to the news and get your source of information regarding local and world affairs, what kind of effect does that have on you mentally and emotionally?
2. Is it time for you to make some changes to what you are watching and listening to? Be honest with yourself.
3. What is an area of your life where fear has stopped you from moving forward in God’s plan? Recognize that fear and give it to Him.

Scriptures: Colossians 3:15-16, Psalms 23, Psalms 91, Luke 21:26

The Rule of Peace 

When you look at the news, it can be overwhelming to see what is happening in the world. Wars are escalating in the Middle East and other places, inflation and debt are rising, there are unprecedented attacks on our children through gender reassignment, and on and on the list goes. If you’re not careful, issues like these can cause you to lose your peace. 

We must remember that what we are seeing is the fulfillment of what Jesus said would take place at the very end of the age: men’s hearts are beginning to fail. Yet, despite all the negative circumstances, we don’t have to lose our peace. We can still have peace of mind in troubled times, and the Bible tells us how to do it. 

Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…“

According to this passage, the peace of God is supposed to rule in our hearts, but what does the word “peace” mean? Interestingly, it is the very same Greek word we saw in John 14:27. In fact, this is the primary word for peace in the New Testament. 

This word, “eirene,” depicts the cessation of war, an end of conflict, and a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after the war has ceased. It is a time when distractions are removed, a time of prosperity where order rules in the place of chaos. 

Friend, when you’re ruled by peace, you’re able to conduct yourself peacefully even in the midst of traumatic or upsetting circumstances. It means war has ended, conflict has ceased, and distractions have been removed. Functioning in the peace of God means shalom is ruling your soul. You’ve been ushered out of the place of chaos and into a time of peace and prosperity. 

Looking again at Colossians 3:15, we see that the apostle Paul instructs us, “…Let the peace of God rule in your hearts….” The word “rule” here is a unique Greek term which describes the umpire or referee who moderated and judged the athletic competitions that were so popular in the ancient world. 

By using this word, Paul was telling us the peace of God should work like an umpire or referee in our hearts, minds, and emotions. When negative emotions try to exert control over us or to throw us into an emotional frenzy, we can stop it by making the choice to let God’s supernatural peace rise up from deep inside us and—like an umpire or referee—moderate our emotions. When this divine umpire called “peace” steps into the game, it suddenly begins to make all the decisions instead of fretfulness, anxiety, and worry. 

Now, you need to understand and put into practice what Paul said in the very next verse.This is key if you want the peace of God to rule your life, as Colossians 3:15 says. 

Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

The word “dwell” here means to live inside, to dwell inside, or to comfortably take up residency, and by using this word, this verse presents the Word of Godas taking up residency and living inside us! It depicts someone so full of the Word of God that his entire being is affected. His heart is full of joy, his mind is flooded with wisdom and understanding, and his mouth is singing songs to the Lord. Having the peace of God rule as an umpire is directly connected with letting the Word dwell lavishly inside your heart. 

Friend, your life is not to be dominated by your emotions or by the feelings of others. You are not to be tossed back and forth by the crazy events happening in the world around you. Instead, God wants you to be ruled by peace. If you’re tired of worrying and being anxious, open your life to the Word of God and let the Word dwell in you richly! Begin each day by reading your Bible and giving the Scripture a grand entrance into your mind and heart. As the Word of God takes up residency in you, it will begin to impart to you all kinds of spiritual riches, including a dominating, supernatural peace that will call all the shots in your life.

For Your Consideration:

1. Can you think of a time when your emotions ruled your life and perhaps ruined your ability to have a peace-filled life?
2. Invite the Holy Spirit to divinely assist you by revealing to you ways your thinking must change. What is He saying to you about your thoughts and what you are continually thinking about?

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:5-11, Psalms 55:22, Philippians 4:8

You Were Not Made to Worry 

We have noted previously that in Luke 21:26, Jesus described one of the things that would be happening in the end times. He said, “Men’s hearts [would be] failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth….” 

Indeed, we are living in desperate, troubling times, which is why we really need to guard what we are watching and listening to. If you’re watching so much news that it’s stealing your peace, you need to turn it off. 

A practical and biblical test to always measure your thoughts by is found in Philippians 4:8: 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Make no mistake: Worrying is not going to change or improve your situation. The only thing it will do is magnify the problem in your mind and make you feel even more overwhelmed than ever. 

But God doesn’t want us to live like that. He makes this clear in 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

In this passage, the word “casting” is a compound of two Greek words, which means to hurl, to throw, to cast, or to throw or to fling something with great force. Instead of worrying, God wants us to fling our cares upon Jesus because we are not designed to carry the burden of worry, fretting, and anxiety. It’s simply too much for the human body to tolerate. 

We may be able to manage it for a while, but eventually, the physical body and mind will begin to break under this type of perpetual pressure. In fact, the medical world has confirmed that the major source of sickness in the Western Hemisphere is stress and pressure. The body breaks down when it undergoes these negative influences for too long because man is simply not fashioned to carry them. If you are struggling with sickness or depression, your condition could very possibly be related to stress and pressure. 

Rather than carry the weight of worry, anxiety, and pressure that is breaking us down and emotionally distressing us, we are supposed to cast it over onto the Lord. In fact, in 1 Peter 5:7, it is almost as if Jesus is calling out to us and saying: “Your shoulders are not big enough to carry the burdens you are trying to bear by yourself. This load will eventually break you, so please let ME be your beast of burden! Take that load and heave it with all your might. Fling it over onto MY back, and let ME carry it for you!” 

This doesn’t mean all your problems go away. It just means they are transferred off of you and onto the shoulders of Jesus. He is walking alongside you, offering to carry the load. If you heave your load onto Him, you will move out of a lack of peace and come out from under the weight and pressure of anxiety, worry, and trying to figure everything out on your own. 

You don’t have to carry the whole weight of the world by yourself. Jesus loves you so much and is so deeply concerned about you and the difficulties you are facing that He is calling out to you right now and is saying: “Roll those burdens over onto Me and let Me carry them for you so you can be free!” He is interested in every facet of your life. He’s thoughtful and concerned for you in your situation, and that is why He is pleading to you through this verse, “Let Me be your beast of burden! Heave it over onto Me. I will carry it for you, and you can be free of it all.” 

If you are lugging around worries, cares, and concerns about your family, your business, your church, or any other area of your life, why not stop right now and say, “Jesus, I’m yielding every one of these concerns to You today. I cast my burden on You, and I thank You for setting me free!”

For Your Consideration:

1. The Bible gives us the command to cast all of our cares upon the Lord. Take a few moments to be still in God’s presence and ask what pressures, stresses, anxieties, and worries you are trying to carry on your own.
2. Is there something specific that always seems to be entering your mind? Take a moment to decide if this thought matches the description in Philippians 4:8. If it doesn’t, cast it on Jesus.

Scriptures: Ephesians 6:10-19, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Peace as Your Spiritual Weapon of War 

There are seven specific pieces of armor God has provided for you to defend yourself and defeat the enemy. Paul talks about them in his letter to the believers in Ephesus, andone of the weapons in our arsenal that he mentions specifically is peace. It is important to note that there are two kinds of peace talked about in Scripture. The first is peace with God, which is what we all receive the moment we repent of our sin and invite Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. The apostle Paul describes this peace in Romans 5:1, where he says: 

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the shed blood of Jesus, we now have peace with God, and our relationship with Him is fully restored. 

The second kind of peace described in Scripture is the peace of God, which is His powerful, enduring peace. Many people are at peace with God, but they do not have the peace of God working in their lives. These believers are in distress, filled with anxiety, and overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. 

In Ephesians 6:10-19, Paul tells us about the armor of God, and he does it by painting a picture of a Roman soldier who is standing tall with his head held high, shoulders thrown back, and chest heaved forward. This soldier knows who he is, and he is proud of it. Similarly, God wants you to know who you are in Christ: a soldier in His army with absolutely nothing to fear! 

The apostle Paul goes on to write that your feet are to be “…shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Well, if you had seen the shoes of a Roman soldier, nothing about them looked peaceful. Those soldiers’ shoes weren’t normal—they were killer shoes! They were made of two primary parts: one part was called the greave, and the other was the shoe itself. 

The greaves, metal that covered a soldiers legs from his knees to the top of his feet, were designed to protect his calves from gashes, cuts, and bruises when he was required to march through rocky and thorny terrain. They also protected the soldier in battle at moments when an adversary kicked him in the shins, trying to break his legs and knock him to the ground. 

As a believer, you have been provided with spiritual “greaves,” and they are designed to protect you through the tough situations that you will face in your life. Some of the difficulties you must walk through are very thorny. These include the sharp, piercing problems found in your relationships, your job, and even the Church. 

Without the peace of God, you will be injured. But just as the greaves of a Roman soldier protected him from the environment and from the blows of his enemy, the peace of God—when it is operating in your life—protects and defends you from the hassles and assaults of the devil and enables you to keep marching forward! 

There is one more thing you need to see in Ephesians 6:15. When it says, “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” the Greek word for “preparation” was also used in connection with Roman soldiers. This word portrayed men of war who had their shoes tied on very tightly to ensure a firm footing. Once they had the assurance that their shoes were going to stay in place, they were ready to march out onto the battlefield and confront the enemy. 

As a believer, when peace is securely fastened in your life, it gives you the assurance you need to step out in faith and make the moves God is leading you to make. Before you take those steps, you need to be sure His peace is operating in your life. 

Shoes of peace are a powerful piece of your God-given spiritual weaponry. Without it, the devil can effectively kick, punch, pull, and distract you. But with God’s conquering peace firmly tied to your mind and emotions, you will be empowered to keep marching ahead, and you will be fortified against the devil’s attempts to take you down!

For Your Consideration:

1. Like a confident Roman soldier, God wants you to know who you are in Christ Jesus and declare that truth over your life. Are there any specific characteristics God has shown you about who He has made you to be? If so, what are they, and what scriptures relate to these Christ-like qualities?
2. What are some thorny areas in your life right now? What about some places where the enemy is trying to kick you down? Think about these areas as you read the Word today, and let God’s peace defend you from them.

Scriptures: Philippians 4:4-9, James 5:13-18, Psalms 34

Moving from Turmoil into Peace 

One of the greatest verses to help us stay in peace and live free from worry and fear is Philippians 4:6. Here, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul lays out God’s proven plan for peace, telling us boldly: 

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

In the original Greek, the phrase “be careful for nothing” literally means do not worry about anything at all. Paul tells us what we should do instead of worrying: 

…In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

The words “in everything” are a translation from the Greek word that signifies every little detail of your life. Philippians 4:6 makes it clear that we are to go to the Lord as often as needed and discuss every little detail and facet of our lives. 

As we learned previously, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us that God is mindful and deeply concerned with every little detail of your life. Although counselors can certainly help us work through difficult issues, the first person we should go to with our problems is the Lord because only He has the ability to effectively hear us and help us. 

After we are instructed to “be careful for nothing,” we are given the first step to take whenever something comes against our mind to steal our peace, and that is to pray. The word “prayer” here describes up-close, face-to-face, or intimate contact. 

When you’re in a place of turmoil, you need to draw near to the altar of God, and once you come intimately close to Him, you make a vow in exchange for His answer to your prayer. You need to be willing to say, “God, I’m going to give you my turmoil, and in exchange, I’m asking You to give me Your peace.” 

I want to help you by giving you a short breakdown on the five steps of Philippians 4:6 that, if applied, will produce true and lasting peace in your life. Take these steps, open your Bible, and study them out until they penetrate your heart and become life unto you. 

Step 1: Prayer: Come to the altar of God and make an exchange. Give Him your turmoil in exchange for His peace. 

Step 2: Supplication: Lay down your pride and honestly tell God what you’re dealing with and what you need. This pleading or appeal is earnest, bold, and shameless. 

Step 3: Thanksgiving: Begin to thank God in advance for moving on your behalf. Your level of thankfulness needs to match the level of your asking. Thankfulness is the voice of faith, and when you move into thankfulness, you’re changing the atmosphere and moving out of turmoil and into peace. 

Step 4: Requests: Your asking is an insistence and demand—with honor and respect—for what you specifically need. Your request is a confident expectation that you will receive what God has promised in His Word. 

Step 5: Know: Your requests to God are to be broadcasted, declared, made known, or made very evident until you have the assurance that God has heard your requests! 

Every time you obediently walk out the five steps of Philippians 4:6—prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, and making your requests known—you will experience the extraordinary promise of Philippians 4:7: 

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

By simply following these five steps, you will move from fear to faith, from turmoil to peace, and from defeat to victory! This is the practical, biblical pathway into the wonderful, supernatural peace of God that passes understanding. His peace will keep your heart and mind, serving as a guard to protect the entrance of the very core of your life. Live in this way, and nothing the enemy throws at you will have the power to steal your peace and rob you of the victorious life offered you through Jesus Christ!

For Your Consideration:

1. By now, you should know that God wants you to come and talk to Him about anything and everything that is bothering you, regardless of what it is. Whatever you’re worrying about should be what you’re praying about! Knowing this truth, what things have you kept from God because you thought they were too small or didn’t want to bother Him?
2. Have you ever wondered what you should pray about? Try listing any tiny little concerns in your life and take time now to voice these concerns, walking through the five steps of Philippians 4:6.