Bridget A. Thomas
Every day is a gift!
Jesus is Our Peace
There are times in life when it’s difficult to grasp peace. Even as Christians, we know Jesus offers peace, and He is the Prince of Peace. Yet when circumstances overwhelm us, holding onto that peace isn’t necessarily easy. But as we learn to lean on the Lord, in every situation, we begin to notice that peace growing in our hearts.
Often times when I have something on my mind, I will stumble across that theme in the things I read and hear. So as I have been thinking about peace, I happened to come across several meaningful quotes that I wanted to share with you.
“Many people say they cannot sleep at night because they can’t get their minds to settle down. But Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep.” When we use our mind to reason our way through a situation to figure out what to do, we rotate our mind around and around an issue until we become worn-out and confused. We can experience peace of mind and heart when we trust in God, not in our human insight and understanding. You and I can grow to the place where we are satisfied to know the One Who knows, even if we ourselves do not know.” – Joyce Meyer
I really appreciated those words from Joyce Meyer because I have often used my mind to reason through a situation. But sometimes God will lead us down a path that doesn’t make sense. So “reason” might be the wrong path. I have seen this in my own life. Some examples that come to mind pertain to my job. The paths I took with my career might not have made sense on the outside. But God knew what He was doing, and led me down the best road.
“Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and ask him more directly to give you joy, peace, and a pure heart. Purity of heart means a heart where God is the center of your attention. Take a simple sentence like ‘The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want,’ and repeat that quietly during the day until the truth of it enters the center of your being. You will always continue to have feelings of depression, anger, and restlessness, but when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening and you can live with trust that in the midst of all of the darkness you will be led to a place of joy and peace.” – Henri Nouwen
I especially liked the line where Henri Nouwen wrote, “when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening.” It reminds me of the words of King David, found in Psalm 27:1:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”
Again, I will use my job as an example. Even though I enjoy my job, I have often been stressed when my plate was piled too high. I also have felt that I am not smart enough or adequate enough to handle some of the tasks I am given. But over the years I have learned that God is always with me. If a big project was given to me, He will help me through it. He gives us wisdom and guidance. When we allow the Lord to be our Shepherd, He will take responsibility for our well-being.
“The peace of God is a gift; it is not something we can manipulate because it is the fruit of oneness with him. When our relationship with him is strong and adversity strikes, we do not have to fall apart or give in to anxiety. We can choose to live in steadfast confidence of his love, wisdom, power and provision. This is the basis of his unshakable peace—not that we are capable of controlling circumstances, but that his help is ever-present and perfect to deliver us in every challenge we face.” – Dr. Charles Stanley
You guys know I love Charles Stanley. So many times over the years, his words have hit home. And this quote is a much-needed reminder that God’s “help is ever-present and perfect to deliver us in every challenge we face.” What more could we ask for? God is always with us and always beside us. We all might have times when we doubt. But the Lord is constantly working. He never rests. He loves us beyond measure and He always wants what is best for us.
Many times when we face difficulties, our peace seems to fly out the window. But it doesn’t have to. If we can keep our focus on Jesus, we can hold onto that peace. Just like Peter when he stepped out of the boat. He did well when he kept his eyes on Jesus. But when Peter looked at the storm, he began to sink…
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
~ Matthew 14:22-33 NIV
This is one of my favorite stories because I picture each one of us stepping out of the boat. Jesus, who loves us more than anyone else, is right there. Even in the storm, He is reaching out His hands to help us.
I pray we can learn to keep our eyes on Jesus. His presence will bring peace into our lives. He loves us beyond measure and cares deeply for us. What a gift Jesus is to us!
In closing, I wish you the same sentiment that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. – 2 Thessalonians 3:16
I apologize for the long post. If you’re still here, thanks for sticking with me! You are in my prayers. And if you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. Thank you for saying a prayer for my family. God bless you!
© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.
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Bridget A. Thomas 
Bridget, this is such a timely post for my household. “Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and ask him more directly to give you joy, peace, and a pure heart.” What a great quote by Nouwen. Thanks for sharing these uplifting thoughts.
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I’m so glad to know that this brought some encouragement, especially in the midst of the trials your family is walking through. You, your wife, and your mom are in my prayers. 🙏
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He gives us the peace that is with us no matter what is happening around us 🙂
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I am reminded of a bumper sticker I have seen – No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. ♥️
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I have to remind myself that it is my responsibility to seek His peace every day. If I am not actively engaged in pursuing Him, it’s so easy to relax and lose focus, sliding into complacency, exactly what the adversary wants. God bless.
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That is a really good point, Judy. It is our “responsibility to seek His peace every day.” And definitely a good point about the adversary wanting us to slide into complacency. Thank you for these reminders. And this especially resonated with something that happened earlier. My husband and I were in the store and neither one of us felt good. I think it was causing us both to lose our peace. I said a quick prayer and it helped us both. Thank you, Judy. It really can be so easy to lose our focus. But as you said, when we are “actively engaged in pursuing Him,” it changes things. ♥️
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♥️
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Bridget- love the quotes and verses you have mentioned in this post. When I have not intentionally pursued God( sort of let my guard down a bit) I find that I more easily get anxious and worried about things. When I tend to reason with my mind ( like you mentioned) I have to fight that with prayer and scripture otherwise I would go down the worrying path.
Thank you for this.
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Manu, your thoughts remind me that it’s all about abiding in Jesus. When we abide in Him, each moment, it helps us to keep our focus on Him. And in turn, I think that will help us to rest in His peace. Jesus really is everything we need. Thank you so much for your comment. It brought me further encouragement ♥️🤗
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I, too, feel at times that my tasks at work in my role are above me. In those times, I have to remember that God placed me here and guided me to where I am today for a reason. Whether it’s by seeking help from someone or somehow figuring the situation out, I know that He is with me even when I’ve dropped the ball or haven’t made the correct choice. I’ve been given opportunities to make it right and learn.
Coincidentally, our sermon today at my church was on the Lord’s Plan, reference to Jeremiah 29:10-14. A few of the key points were: When you’re in exile, pray for the world/land, but don’t become like the world/land you’re in. Nothing is accidental with God. Live faithfully in exile, live as a distinct child of God. The best of your life is the next one.
Thank you for sharing these great reminders and quotes that point us back to what matters. 🫶🏻 Have a great rest of your weekend, Bridget!
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Hi Summer! I know how you feel, in regards to your tasks at work. I like how you pointed out the opportunities to learn. That is a great point. And when we remember that, it helps lift some of the stress.
That sounds like it was a very meaningful sermon. Thank you for sharing some of the key points. I especially appreciate – “Nothing is accidental with God” and “Live faithfully in Exile.” They both can help our perspective when facing difficulties.
Thank you for sharing that Summer. I hope you are enjoying your Sunday evening and getting some good reading in! 😁
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Wonderful post! When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we do not have to be afraid. Praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing these Bible verses with us. Your post was not too long, but just right!!!
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Thank you, Linda! I’m really glad this post brought inspiration. And I’m glad it wasn’t too long! What a priceless gift we have in Jesus. May we remember to keep our eyes on Him! Thank you for your prayers! I hope you have a blessed week! ♥️
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I appreciate your comment about feeling stressed at work when things pile up… I know for myself I often feel inadequate or not smart enough to take on different task but remembering that the Lord is with me and strengthens me is such a help!! Thankful for your encouragement here!!❤️
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I’m so glad this was encouraging! When I stop and think about things such as my job, it amazes me how much God has helped me. There is no way I could do it on my own. He blesses us so much. My heart overflows ♥️♥️
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When we face difficulties, it is comforting to know God’s help is ever-present and that He listens to our prayers. When life seems overwhelming and confusing, fixing our eyes on Jesus directs us to the correct path. Thanks for the needed reminder. 🌺
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You’re welcome. I’m glad this brought encouragement. What a gift we have in Jesus. I’m so thankful we can lean on Him, in every moment! ♥️
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Great post. I need HIS peace when I wake up in the night the most. But when I pray and focus on scripture, before I know it, I have fallen back to sleep. It really works. When we sleep HE is still working!!
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Such a good point, Maxine! That is a beautiful picture of how we are always safe in His arms!
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