Hello, BRN Family! It’s good to be with you today!

Many Christians experience a lack of peace, which can stem from various factors, such as unresolved sin, a lack of trust in God, difficult circumstances, and not prioritizing spiritual practices like prayer and Bible study.

The Bible offers numerous Scriptures that speak about peace:

  • John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
  • Isaiah 26:3: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

The greatest culprit in the absence of peace is a lack of trust in God. Worry often stems from this lack of trust, leading people to focus on earthly anxieties rather than faith in His promises. When Christians don’t fully trust in God’s plan and provision, they feel overwhelmed and lack peace. We often trust our own abilities, believing we can solve our problems, but after all our worry and effort, we come up short—unable to bring about suitable solutions.

What does the Bible say about having a lack of peace or being worrisome?

  • In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible encourages Christians to cast their cares on God and not be anxious about anything, emphasizing that God cares for them and will provide for their needs.
  • In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches His followers not to worry about material needs, emphasizing that God will provide.
  • In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul instructs believers to not be anxious, but to pray and give thanks, and to trust in God’s peace.

The root cause of worry is our desire to be in control, but the truth is we aren’t. Worry and anxiety began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, plunging the world into sin and misery. The very next emotion they experienced was fear (Gen. 3:10), one of the elements of anxiety. Once the perfect relationship between God and man was damaged, their sense of security and peace disappeared. The fall of man is the primary source of anxiety and missing peace.

How do we get peace, or get it back?

Peace comes through abiding in Christ; it cannot be found outside of Him. The Bible says in Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked.” And in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Peace is a gift from God, directly related to our actions and attitudes. If we trust Him, we have peace. If we distrust Him, we will have a void of peace in our lives.

Many Christians, even pastors, can lack peace. It can be robbed or stolen by the enemy (Satan) to keep us from being at peace with God. Our enemy uses circumstances and experiences to fill us with anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

What is the solution when you are missing or lacking peace?

  • Immerse yourself in prayer and God’s Word.
  • Talk to a trusted and godly friend or mentor.
  • Seek counseling if you cannot break the stronghold.

If you are a pastor in need of counseling or coaching to help you regain peace, reach out to the BRN. We will help you connect with a counseling resource to drive anxieties away and bring peace back into your life. Don’t let the enemy convince you that living without peace is normal—it’s not. Let someone help you regain peace today. Please know I am always praying for you. Thanks for listening in today and may God bless you!

The Baptist Resource Network partners with Converge Coaching and MyCounselor.Online to offer pastors opportunities for spiritual, emotional, and mental health wellness. There are 50 slots available per year for lead/senior or campus lead pastors on a first come, first serve basis. Learn more here.