Every time we stare at our problems, it causes what I call temporary truth amnesia. This is when we’re so glued to the negativity, lies, and hopelessness that we can’t remember anything God has ever said. Our mouths pour a steady stream of complaining, discouragement, and fear. Quiet time with the Lord seems almost impossible in these moments. We can’t hear him when we’re busy listening to the voices in our heads.

Peace is a person. His name is Jesus. Ephesians 2:14 declares, “Our reconciling ‘Peace’ is Jesus!” (TPT). And Isaiah 9:6 calls him the Prince of Peace.

When we’ve lost our peace, we’ve lost our sense of him.

In the midst of life’s challenges, we are meant to experience the security of his presence — the One who is peace and has invited us to live, move, and have our being in him. Stress and overwhelm happen when we forget the truth and live like we’re alone on our journey.

Peace is a core need in my life. I tend to mentally scramble to maintain serenity and harmony in every situation. In other words, I want to fix everything and everyone, and my constant mantra is, “Why can’t everyone just get along?” We’re all wired with this need for peace, but how we express that urgency varies. Some numb out with TV, pints of ice cream (previously my two favorite ways), scrolling online, or even using drugs. Others stay busy, so they don’t have time to acknowledge their fears until the pressure reaches a breaking point and demands their attention.

The secret to living a less anxious life is to abide in the sanctuary. I’m not referring to a physical place, but rather an interior space. As a Christian, you are a temple of God’s holy presence. By focusing on his presence with you and in you, you’re tapping into the peace that surpasses understanding. You don’t need God to come to you; he is already with you and has never left. Unfortunately, it’s easy to forget this during challenging times.

Our loving Father created us to live in the peace that surpasses understanding, and stillness helps us enter into it. As quiet time with him becomes a daily habit, our desire for his presence begins to overflow into everyday life. We find ourselves talking with him, listening for his still small voice, and becoming more aware of our union with him. To our joy, we discover that this way of living is setting us free.

If someone told me that years ago, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. I desperately wanted it, but I seriously doubted that I, with my golden VIP membership to Overthinkers Anonymous, could ever have it. I’m happy to say that peace is my new normal and can be yours, too.

This isn’t to say that your life will be free from trials. But when anxiety rears its ugly head, it will feel so foreign that you’ll run back into the safety of God’s love. When the enemy or your jumbled thinking tries to drown out the truth, returning to the reality of Jesus’ presence is as simple as closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and whispering His name. You return your attention to the Lord by an act of your will—shifting your focus away from the problem and onto the Lord.

Usually, this gentle turning of your attention ushers in tangible comfort, although it’s not always immediate. The good news is that by making this a habit, you’ll be heading in the right direction—walking the path that leads to peace instead of army crawling down the muddy, cold passage that leads to despair.

When you’re faced with lies about God’s love and faithfulness, the best thing you can do is turn your attention to him. Remind yourself that he is with you and for you. Reject the lies and focus on the truths of Scripture. Do this again, and again, and again—all day long, turning your heart and mind to Jesus. When gently leaning into the Lord becomes your automatic response to every situation in life, you begin to see life through a completely different lens.

When the Father’s love becomes your continual dwelling, fear stops dominating your thoughts because Perfect Love drives it out. Your ponderings become consumed with him, and these holy meditations gradually influence every thought so that lies no longer stand a chance. The more you think about his love for you and his truth, the easier it is to see the absurdity of negativity, hopelessness, and fear.

Psalm 23:2 describes it best.

“He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.”

Psalm 23:2 TPT

Notice that the Lord doesn’t drag us to those quiet waters. No! He offers us a place to rest, but it’s up to us to accept it.

In God’s Kingdom, wisdom is sitting at his feet and waiting for his instructions when you’d rather run and make something happen. So, if you’ve been pressuring yourself to figure things out more than you’ve been waiting on and trusting in God, do yourself a favor and stop. You don’t need a backup plan. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will lead you once you stop trying to lead yourself. You are not irresponsible just because you aren’t scrambling to figure everything out!

As our relationship with him deepens, our lives transform. Continually encountering God sets us free. This is the power of God’s love.

To learn more about the practice of waiting on God (contemplative prayer), check out Gretchen’s new book, Encountering The Divine: The Transforming Power of Being With God, available on Amazon.

---