A Prayer for Inner Peace in Chaotic Moments
By Keri Eichberger
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:7
It kind of drives me crazy how fleeting peace can be. Oh, how I wish serene moments of the soul would just come and stay, but they never seem to. Not for long, anyway. And I bet we’ve all felt this deep desire for inner stillness during certain seasons of the wild life we’re living. You know what peace feels like. You love it and long for it, don’t you? You’ve been embraced by her covering of comfort before. But then it seems as quickly as she graces you with her sweet, soothing presence, the strong currents of unexpected circumstances whip into your path and wipe away every trace of calm and collectedness. Yet again.
Are you longing for peace in your soul right now, in this very season? A season where all that seems to be surrounding you is moving way too fast or throwing you for loops and tossing you into constant clutter or confusion? I feel the fluster of chaos these days myself. There are demands at home. Deadlines with work. Needs of service to loved ones. Requests for help at church. Obligations to friends. And a surplus of concern about all the things and then some. So many seeming responsibilities that need my time and attention, filling my head and heart space to the point of overflowing into a deep pool of way too much.
I want nothing more than to give all my burdens to the Lord and inhale the richness of his permeating peace. A sweeping of serenity that will infuse its way into my shaky soul and leak out as sturdy steps and breaths. I want to be reminded of God’s love that is always watching over me and God’s power that is always protecting me. I want to feel God’s presence so close that even if my circumstances don’t change or they decline, the peace he offers, which surpasses understanding, will guard me, still me, and mellow me. I want this for all my people–for you too.
The good news we both need to remember is this: It can be ours. It is a promise we can trust, written in our unfailing God’s unfailing Word. It’s time to turn to God again. To surrender it all again. Will you turn to him right now with me for his peace? And then again, when the blows of life blindside you later? Because I know life tends to do that. A lot. To all of us. But dear child of God, remember this. Each time you look to the Lord, you will indeed find him. And you will also find hints of the inner peace you are craving and waiting for.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, You are the Prince of Peace. You are my Prince of Peace. It is your peace that is freely available to each of your children at any and every moment. And it is the only peace that fully fills. I praise you for this ever-present gift. So often, difficulties distract me, discourage me, and bring me to the steep edge of defeat. To the point that peace–that sweet, spiritual fruit I desperately need–feels near impossible to grasp. But Lord, I know the truth is that your peace is always there because you are always there. Help me remember and hold tightly to this. Help me turn my eyes to you in every chaotic moment, situation, and season. Help me find more time for you. Lord, quiet my raging thoughts and help me hear your calming voice saying, “Trust me, dear child, I have you. I’m here. I’m holding you. I love you. Peace be with you.” Thank you for never failing and never leaving.
In your peaceful name, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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Originally published Wednesday, 31 July 2024.
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