What Does God Say About Finding Peace in Stressful Times?

Intro

Our lives are full of stressful circumstances. Even as a baby, we were stressed out trying to get milk from momma. As a kid and teen, school can be an intense stressor. As an adult, you have all kinds of things that could stress you out. But when we look at Jesus, we don’t see a stressed, anxious, and fearful man. You may say, “Well, Jesus didn’t have things to stress him out.” You would be the furthest from the truth!

Jesus constantly had people mocking him. Constantly, people were leaving him. His whole ministry, he knew he was going to have to go to the cross. He knew that he was the Savior of the world. That sounds like a lot of potential for stress!

But nonetheless, he stayed calm. How? Because He’s God!? No! Jesus was a man just like us (not taking away from His deity). He could do this because he was in constant communion with God and always walked in love.

This is not to say Jesus was never stressed, but even in the midst of the most stressful situation, he still had peace.

The Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus’ Most Stressful Time

Jesus did get stressed! But what he did not do was lose his peace. We even see here in the account of Jesus in the garden that when he was at his most stressful point, he still was able to entrust his life to God.

V.39: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus was about to go to the cross and receive in himself the penalty for us all, taking on the punishment for every sin ever committed. And yet, he still was able to say, “Not my will, but yours, Father.”

Don’t Run from Stress. Run to God Instead.

The goal here is not to run from stress. If we run from stress, we are fearful of it. But the Word says that perfect love casts out fear. So when we run to perfect love, fear has no place in us.

Jesus didn’t run away when he went to the garden. He instead ran to God. He stayed up all night earnestly seeking his Father. And the result was peace and joy.

Hebrews 12:2: “For the joy that was set before him endured the cross.”

So How Do We Be More Like Jesus and Have Peace in the Midst of Stressful Times?

Run to God!

Jesus ran to God every single day. He prayed early in the morning before anyone was awake, and late at night while everybody was asleep. Even during the day, he would withdraw himself from the crowds to pray.

Transform Your Thinking

Peace is not determined by our circumstances or situations, but by what we view and think on in the midst of the circumstances and situations.

Jesus was in many “stressful” situations. People hated him openly, told him he was demon-possessed, tried to kill him, crucified him, and so much more! But in all of it, he had peace because his mind was set on higher things. His mind was set on the Father and his bride.

Hebrews 12:2: “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus had his thoughts set on the joy set before him. We must do the same! We must remember the promises of God and remember the purpose of our lives. We are free, we are forgiven, we are empowered by the Spirit of God. These things only bring us peace when we truly believe them. So even in the midst of any and every circumstance, we can have the peace of Christ.

Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Be in Godly Community

People that are godly and genuinely walk with God are here to help you in your journey with God. That is why, as Christians, we call each other brothers and sisters because we are here for each other in everything.

I can guarantee you, any man in my church, family, or friends who comes to me with absolutely any situation, I am there for them. Any Christian who genuinely follows Jesus would do the same.

So, if you don’t already have these kinds of people in your life, find them! Pray and ask God to help you find them or that they will find you. I sure did pray a lot for godly friends, and sure enough, God is always faithful!

More Bible Verses On Peace

Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Psalm 34:14: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
2 Corinthians 13:11: “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Romans 8:6: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Conclusion

We do not have to allow circumstances and life to take away our peace. Not even the devil can take our peace away from us. The only one who can take away our peace is ourselves.

So let’s learn to keep our thoughts on what is good and godly and cast down the bad thoughts. Just because the bad thoughts come does not mean you have to keep them. Lay them at the feet of Jesus and walk in the peace that he paid for.

If you haven’t already checked out my last post on what God says about overcoming anxiety, you can check it out here! And stay tuned for my next post on “What Does God Say About Exercise?”