Give yourself space and grace as you come out of sleep mode. Let your first thoughts be about God and his love for you, not the stresses of the day.
I could tell the woman was on edge. Her attitude seeped frustration as she pulled the shopping carts back together, trying to retrieve her quarter. We were at a local market that requires you to put a quarter into the front of the cart to unlock it. Once you return it, you can get your quarter back. Other shoppers had left the carts unlocked in an attempt to pay it forward, but this gesture only seemed to anger the woman.
After I returned my cart and went back to my vehicle, I realized how often I see this type of behavior. It seems like the smallest inconveniences and mishaps annoy people these days, and the situation can escalate quickly. Each time I go out, I see it, and I also notice my own tendency to get frustrated by small things.
Is it possible to live with peace in today’s hostile culture? In a world where it’s easier than ever to share your opinion or demean someone on social media without any long-term consequences, can we go about our days without anxiety and a constant sense that we’re walking on eggshells? I believe it is, but it requires intention.
Living with peace requires us to live in a counter-cultural way. We must submit ourselves daily to the One who said He gave us peace (John 14:27). It's not as a result of striving or earning it but was a gift for us to receive and walk in.
So what does this counter-cultural way of life look like? While certain aspects will vary depending on our unique circumstances, there are practices each of us can adopt to live in the peace Jesus describes.
Here are four things we can do in our day-to-day lives to still have peace in today’s hostile culture:
1. Take Time to Unplug
We consume more information than any generation before us. We are constantly plugged in, available to others at a moment’s notice, whether it’s by text or instant message. If something tragic happens on the other side of the world, we know about it within minutes. If someone doesn’t like the way we handled something we chose to share on social media or disagrees with our opinion, they can tell us (whether they know us or not).
Is it any wonder we’re stressed? Our souls need time and space to connect with our Creator, but it can be difficult to do that when we’re connected everywhere else. This is why it’s so important for us to take intentional time to unplug and get still before God. Now, more than ever, our souls need time when we’re not bombarded with the latest news, messages, and needs.
While Jesus did not live with the technological advances we have today, we repeatedly see him taking time away to connect with the Father. Even when others were looking for him and needed him, he got away by himself to pray, recharge, and care for his own soul.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!’” Mark 1:35-37 NIV
If Jesus did this, how much more do we need to take this time away?
2. Name What’s Burdening You
Yes, God already knows what’s burdening you. But over and over again in scripture, we see that naming the burdens of our hearts out loud to God transforms our perspective and brings peace. One of the men of the Bible we see doing this repeatedly is David. His psalms admitting his fears, frustrations, and laments are where we see him rejoicing at the end and declaring a newfound trust.
Psalm 13 begins with David saying, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” but ends with him declaring, “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
If a problem or situation is weighing on your heart and robbing you of peace, be honest with God about it. Name the burden out loud. In the same way a therapist or counselor provides comfort by allowing us to name our emotions and process them, God will provide comfort when we talk to him about our worries.
3. Set Boundaries with Toxic People
I understand that we hear the word “toxic” so often nowadays that it almost seems cliché. When I say “toxic people,” I don’t mean people who disagree with you or challenge your opinion. I’m talking about people who never see the good in any situation, who drain you, and who always play the victim. They seem like they are on a diatribe to make their opinion known and value others knowing it more than they value relationships.
If you have such a person in your life, boundaries are not unloving. They are crucial to the health of your soul. This doesn’t mean you have to cut off all contact or never speak to the person again, but it does mean you need to recognize your inability to change the person. The Holy Spirit can change people and transform a spirit from death to life. We cannot.
Jesus encouraged his followers to have boundaries when he said the following:
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6 NIV
In essence, we all have important jobs here on earth, which God planned long ago for us to do. If we spend the bulk of our time trying to speak life to people who will never receive it, we will miss what God has for us to do. And not only that, we’ll likely lose our peace in the process.
4. Take Time to Center Yourself in God’s Love Each Morning
Even if you don’t have time to dive deep into Bible study in the morning, take time to talk to God. Ask him to help you live in his peace, joy, and love as you go about your day. When I take time to do this, I’m often amazed by how much the simple practice can impact my attitude.
What we focus on first will impact the following hours. So if we reach for our phone and our first thoughts are about the news or the nagging message we received from a friend, we’re burdening our brains before we’ve even had time to wake up. Give yourself space and grace as you come out of sleep mode. Let your first thoughts be about God and his love for you, not the stresses of the day.
David spoke of his heart to meet with God in the morning in many of his psalms: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you” (Psalm 5:3 NIV).
The world can seem very dark and hostile these days, but the good news is this: the peace God gives is not of this world. He says in John 14:27, “I do not give as the world gives.” And for this reason, it is possible to live in his peace. Even now.
Will it be natural or easy? No, it will require intention on our part and a dedication to spend time in this Word daily. But when we experience his peace, it is life-transforming. It is worth every moment we spend letting him transform our minds.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/TomMerton
Abby McDonald is a writing coach and the author of Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God. Her mission is to empower women to seek God in the middle of life’s messes and to share their faith with courage. Abby writes regularly for Proverb 31 Ministries’ daily devotions team, and her work has been featured in numerous publications. You can connect with Abby on her website where you can grab a free worship playlist to help you shift your focus toward God. You can also connect with Abby on Instagram.
