7 Ways to Find True Peace in the Unexpected
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Life happens. It’s hard when unexpected trials march into your world without warning. These are the times when it’s hardest to really cling to the truth that we know. It’s a struggle to trust that everything will work out. Sometimes life knocks us down out of nowhere and we struggle to find our footing. We long for a peace to overwhelm us, but the circumstances continue to billow over our heads and we can’t seem to grasp hold of the peace we once had.
If you are in an unexpected season, you know what it’s like to wrestle with peace. It’s something you want and know is available, but your soul just can’t seem to settle.
These 7 ways to find peace are not rocket science or a revelation you have never heard, but I hope they help you if you are in the midst of the unexpected.
Photo Credit: GettyImages/ipopba1. Slow down
Life is rushing past us faster than we can catch it. And when unexpected struggles hit you out of nowhere, you might find yourself feeling like you are running on a hamster wheel, faster and faster but getting nowhere. So I’m giving you permission to slow down. Sometimes we need someone else to remind us that it is ok to rest. Jesus even offers us rest as a result of trusting in Him.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
We see the same rest offered before Christ in the Old Testament through the prophet Isaiah when he instructed the people that if they would trust in the one true God they would have rest as a result of returning to Him. I love this beautiful picture of rest for us. We can have rest too, but we have to slow down when unexpected struggles try to sabotage our faith.
“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling” (Isaiah 30:15).
Photo credit: Unsplash/Krzysztof Niewolny
2. Face the fear of the unexpected with honesty
Do not pretend like everything is fine. We do this all the time when we are asked how we are doing. The answer is almost always, “fine.” And it’s a lie. When life is complicated and unexpected trials loom over your head one of the best things you can do is embrace reality. When you do, you will be forced to deal with what you are going through. If you never face it and continue to fake it, you will never grow the faith to get through it.
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:5-8).
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3. Pray first thing in the morning
Before your feet even hit the floor say a word of prayer to God. I find it’s best to offer thanksgiving for a new day and a new opportunity to experience the peace of God. Pray something simple like, “Thank you God for the air I’m breathing. Thank you for the bed I rested in through the night. Thank you God for another day.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
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4. Run to God's Word
It might seem obvious that God’s Word is the place we should go when unexpected seasons hit, but often it’s the last place. It’s like we know the right thing to do, but we struggle to get it done. So we call a friend, text a family member, or post a rant on social media about all the things that are going on that are wrong. When we finally go to the Word and find a bit of encouragement, we finally realize it’s the place we should have turned all along. It keeps us from saying things we don’t mean and doing things we wouldn’t otherwise do.
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
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5. Claim a promise from God's Word
God’s Word is there to lead us and guide us. It’s like a shepherd’s staff that has just the right design to scoop us up when needed, or to prod us on to the next step. Claiming peace from God’s Word is a practice that will change your life. Knowing God’s truth in the unexpected seasons of life is something that will carry you when you feel like you can’t take another step. It’s like walking in the dark, but being able to see enough light to move. God promises to light our path. That brings peace.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
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6. Replace lies of the enemy with truth from God's Word
Peace is always compromised when we begin to believe something about ourselves that is not true. If we believe we are alone, we will begin to fear like we are alone. But if we replace that lie with the truth of the Bible, we will begin to live like we are with God and loved by Him. Peace comes when we cling to the truth. Peace leaves when we entertain the lies. To live in peace we must live in truth.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
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7. Pray peace straight from God's Word
One of the best things we can do to embrace peace is embrace the words found in scripture. One of my favorite psalms to pray in the unexpected seasons of life is Psalm 18. The first verse gives us a few words packed full of a way to combat the fears in the unexpected. Try praying these words out loud anytime you are struggling to find peace:
“I love you, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).
Knowing where our affection, attention, and strength comes from often is the exact thing we need to boost our faith and keep us focused in the right direction when unexpected seasons attempt to force us to look away from God. Keep loving God. Keep looking to God. And keep believing God is your strength and peace because He is.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden
Micah Maddox is a women’s event speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Anchored In: Experience a Power-Full Life in a Problem-Filled World. She is passionate about helping women find purpose, peace, and calm in our chaotic world. Micah is on the Proberbs31 First5 Writing Team. As a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and foster mom, she contributes her time to her family and local church serving as a women’s ministry leader. Micah loves to give a voice to hurting hearts and writes to the one who needs encouragement. You can connect with her at micahmaddox.com.