Do you ever tell yourself you’ll finally have peace when the house is clean and de-cluttered? Or when the kids finally get along? Or maybe things will settle down in the world? Or when that one relationship is restored? Maybe you’re waiting to be financially set, and debt is paid off. It seems we are always waiting for an old weary season to be over and a new exciting season to begin to have peace.

How do we hold onto on when we need to know that there’s always hope for things to get better? How do we, as Christians, bring light to the darkness? And honestly, there’s got to be more than just sharing a verse or quote on social media. I believe more than ever we need to shine bright and allow our light to penetrate the darkness.

Inner peace is not a result of outside circumstances. It is not possible for something or someone to steal our peace. Peace is something that comes from God. If we are faithful to learn and experience God’s character, we will take possession of the gift of peace in our everyday lives. Inner peace comes in spite of our outside circumstances when we learn to abide in Christ.

Peace must come from within; if not, it becomes a coat we put on and take off depending on our outward circumstances. However, when peace is experienced deep within then, it is real, lasting, and genuine.

But how?

How do we experience eternal peace?

How do we not allow every negative circumstance to steal our peace and cause so much stress and anxiety?

3 Keys to Maintain Peace

Stay connected to God’s living water.

“If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been life a river, your righteousness life the waves of the sea” Isaiah 48:18.

“Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city” Revelation 22:1-2.

God’s living water of peace flows straight from the throne room of Heaven. The source of the river of peace is God himself. When we stay connected to the river we entirely dependent on it to carry us to where we need to go. His river supplies all we need. It’s our actual source of peace. Never ending.

“For this is what the Lord says: I will make peace flow to her like a river” Isiah 66:12.

“The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” John 7:38.

Oh friend, the peace God offers is living and active, it flows deep within like a river.

However, when we depend on outward circumstances to supply our peace, our souls become more like a pond rather than a river. Scum of unhealthy mindsets settle on the edge, and you begin to settle for less. This body of water starts to smell and dry up because it stays disconnected from any source of living water. The mud of old circumstances causes offense and unforgivingness to creep in. When your peace comes from a pond rather than a river self-pity and self-doubt, steal peace and joy from you. There is no activate living source flowing into a pond. Unless our peace is like a river, then it will dry up like a pond in the dead of summer.

Take hold of the truth Jesus freely paid for us to receive. We don’t have to live like a muddy, dried up pond. God’s peace is active and moving, never stannic.

It doesn’t matter what the world throws at you, it cannot take what flows within.

Remember God’s Faithfulness 

“My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” Psalm 42:3-5.

Think about what He has brought you through already. Think about all the times He was faithful in the past and provided above and beyond what you ever hoped or imagined. Praise Him. It won’t be long before you begin to experience an overwhelming peace.

 Trust God in Prayer 

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.

Trust God. Don’t have to worry. Submit it all your concerns to Him and leave them in his hands. Never imagine a circumstance without God right by your side. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is in our past, future, and stand with us in the present. Though we may not hear an answer in our timing, His peace is standing guard within the gates of our mind and hearts, preventing the invasion of fear. Such peace, in the midst of trials, can be pretty shocking… it surpasses all our human knowledge.

Has a situation been causing you inner turmoil? Commit it to God. Tell Him you trust him to lead and guide you into all truth. Ask him to help you wait on his timing. And enjoy his perfect peace.

Article first published on Daughter of the Deep.