Peace Of Mind In Tough Times – Part 3

Peace is such a powerful virtue to have. It is not just about having peace with God our Creator, it is about living harmoniously with yourself, others and with all the elements of life and the sentient beings around you. Living in peace must become a way of life for all mankind where we love and respect each other despite ones skin color, religious beliefs, cultural background or even political affiliation.

Additionally, from within our hearts and minds, there has to be a deeper searching and awareness of those that carry a type of fear inwardly that only seem to result in war and uprising and to put love into action where we do our part to get them help before hurting themselves and other more.

So in today’s article here are some suggestions to help you to discover your journey of peace of mind in these tough times….

Jesus Said This About Peace

Matthew 5:9  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 20:19  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.”

What You Can Do To Increase Peace

1.)  Pray – Prayer is the avenue through which the grace of peace flows. So, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

2.)  Seek to have a closer relationship with God – He is the God of peace. Where there is no love, there is no peace. God is love and God is peace.

3.)  Seek to love and not control others – Love while trying to control is manipulation in disguise. It is about seeking to impose your will on others without appreciating or seeing their side of things. True love in action will not only include people’s positive traits but their faults and differences.

4.)  Learn to trust yourself as you trust in God – It is often not as bad as you think it is. Learn to relax and trust yourself, knowing that as you grow and heal through life experiences, it will work out for your good. Isaiah 12:2  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

5.)  Ease your expectation while you reflect – Setting your expectation too high at times is the source of disappointment, and inward turmoil. Realize life is under no obligation to give you exactly what you were expecting and in the way that you envisioned it. Taking the time to reflect, helps you to put things into better perspective and will definitely help to eliminate some responses that have led to tragic outcomes in life. 

6.)  Seek forgiveness, not revenge – forgiveness releases you from the prison of the past, it frees you from resentment, it rids your heart and mind of the constant internal conflict, it allows you to live in peace in the present and it opens up the doorway to your future blessings.

7.)  Broaden your understanding of peace and in the words of Gandhi, be the change you wish to see in the world.

Your turn…

What gives you peace of mind when times are tough and stressful? Leave a comment below and let us know.

photo by: Martina Photography