Peace seems to be something we all strive for but never quite find. There always seems to be something to disturb our tranquility. Whether it’s a root canal, unexpected bills, or being injured doing projects around the house, there always seems to be something that makes us feel out-of-control.

As a result, peace often eludes us. The everyday pitter-patter of problems rob us of our sense of being safe. Why do we let this happen? Why can’t we rise above our circumstances and not let our problems make us so worried and fearful?

Professional counselors tell us that it’s not our circumstances that give us peace, but our perception of them. If we perceive our circumstances as greater than our strength to meet them, then it’s logical to be afraid- after all, we are going to fail! So, we lose our peace.

But if we consider our circumstances as being under the control of God, who can do anything, and are confident that he will help us, we can continue to relax and stay calm, and know we are not going to fail.

One year I sought peace from circumstances. It was my favorite time of the year (Fall). I planned a fun Halloween party, and took a trip to the mountains to enjoy the pretty trees. I also did several other things to ensure my Fall would be enjoyable. But no, it didn’t happen. I fell into a depression and despite all the fun things I had planned, I didn’t have peace or joy.

This experience helped me to learn that peace comes from within, not from good things happening. It’s a byproduct of living in the power of the Spirit, who lives within us. Peace comes to us as we rely on God controlling our circumstances and protecting us from our fears and worst-case scenarios we imagine.

Peace also comes to us as we accept the limits God places on our lives. Limits of our control, abilities, and outcomes. We quit fighting for what isn’t and learn is accept what is. We rest in his complete control and trust that he has our best interest at heart. As the verse says, “I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 31:2 NLT). When we continue to strive to serve the idols of achievement, impressing, and comfortability, we remain frustrated and dissatisfied.  

God tells us to give up trying to find peace without him. As long as we leave him out of our lives, we will be anxious. As Augustine observed, “our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”

Peace is a byproduct of partnering with him in living life. It’s not something we attain by molding and twisting our circumstances so we feel safe. Partnering means turning to him in prayer immediately when we lose our peace. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:6,7, NLT).

Peace comes from accepting the frustrating, scary, and bad circumstances he sends us and turning to God to guide and help us through them.

May we all grow in capturing the illusive butterfly of peace. He promises that as we rely on him instead of our good circumstances, we will, at last, escape our fears and worries and find peace.