The Secret to Unshakable Peace {And a Give-Away!}


It’s hardly what I expected. Suddenly a situation that had been fine was now anything but. Stunned and aching, I struggled to breathe, didn’t know what to say, could hardly think straight.

When situations over which we have no control hit us like emotional tsunamis, we can feel overwhelmed, confused, and frightened. But we don’t have to stay that way.

Here are four simple things that helped me hold on to my peace, and they will help you, too. 

1. Pray. Our first reaction to any form of distress should always be to pray. Prayer should be instinctive, like gulping air after emerging from under water. If prayer is not instinctive for you, ask God to help you to pray more and pray first. He will. Then cry out to God, knowing He is always listening, and ask Him to intervene, grant wisdom, clarity, direction, strength, and His supernatural peace. Ask Him to make His presence real  and bring comfort as only He can.

2. Stay out of your head. After spending a lot of time in prayer, struggling to understand what had happened and trying to figure out what my next step should be, I phoned a friend. (Thank God for good friends!) Her advice, “Stay out of your head”, reverberated in my heart, and I instantly I knew she was right. I needed to refuse to dwell on the situation. Much easier said than done, but entirely possible with the Lord. (“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6)

3. Shift your focus. Every time the raw reality of my tsunami situation slapped me in the face, I refused to entertain dread, worry, fear, or any other negative emotion. I deliberately closed my eyes and chose to focus instead on the Lord. I continually quoted Job 42:2, “I know that you can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.”

4. Worship. I know, I know. Worship is probably the last thing we feel like doing when our world is crashing and our innards are trembling. But the truth is God dwells in the midst of our praises. (see Psalm 22:3) And HE is the One we need! When we praise God in the middle of our circumstances, He is honored, and He will either change our situations or change us. It’s a win-win.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. (Isaiah 26:3) 

Would you like some help walking in peace? I’m giving away a signed copy of my new book, Prayers For a Woman's Soul to a randomly selected winner. To enter the give-away, please leave a comment (please use your first and last name-or last name initial- if possible, to make winner's announcement more clear). If you are reading this via email, please click here to leave a comment.  Sorry, give-away open to U.S. residents only.


The WINNER of last week’s give-away, receiving a signed copy of Prayers For a Woman’s Soul is: Kimberly A. Edwards. Congratulations! Please send me your mailing address by May 21st. 


P.S. My publisher wanted me to let you know that in celebration of Mother's Day, the ebook version of Prayers For a Woman’s Soul is currently on sale for only $2.99! If you're anything like me, you love a great deal! I hope you take advantage of this tremendous sale! 

 



17 comments:

A Journey For Life said...

Trust Him with my children and husband's faith.

Unknown said...

I have medical issues. I need God's intervention, as I am a caretaker for my special needs son. I am in a terrible pit with my finances.

Unknown said...

I forgot to add Julie what a blessing it is to always see your words written! Whether or not I would win a book, your book is at the top of my list of books I must have! Your heart for us who don't know how to pray adequately for ourselves! What a ministry you've been entrusted with! Thankyou Julie!

Anonymous said...

My family and I have never known loss personally. This March 7th, dad went Home to be with Jesus and we miss him terribly. I'm believing in The Lord to heal our hearts and restore us. We are very broken. Your spirit filled words always encourage me. Please pray for mom & our family. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Above post from Hilda Quintanilla
Hegquintanilla3@att.net

Anonymous said...

Believing God for miracles in health issues of me/dh and for miracles in a relative's many issues.
Love your posts; anxious to have your book!
Jackie Smith
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

KW said...

I am believing God for my adult children to come to Jesus for salvation, to be delivered from drugs and alcohol use, to be set free from any and all bondage they may be in, and total restoration in all relationships with my husband, children, grandchildren, mother.
Kathi W.
kwhittamore@gmail.com

Tammy L said...

I too, Kat, am believing that God will bring salvation to my adult child and nephew and that they will be delivered from drugs and alcohol abuse. I truly believe this will happen in God's time; we just need to keep the faith that this will happen and never give up praying.

Pamela Matthews said...

I love what you said,"He will either change our situations or change us. It’s a win-win." So many times I ask the LORD to change my situation when He chooses instead to change me. I forget that the ultimate goal He has for me is not to be worry free or go through life without experiencing pain but to grow to be more life Jesus. His purposes for me are always good, even though they may not always "feel" as if they are. I am so thankful that the God of the Universe loves me so much that He will never leave me or forsake me! That's a promise I can hold onto for the rest of my life. What a great God we serve!

Anonymous said...

I am in a bible study on prayer and learned that...It is the Heart that Prays…
Here are a few ways to prepare your heart to pray… ( in no specific order)
1. Make a special time to pray.
2. Make a special place to pray- church, outdoors, in a special place at home
3. You might try to listening to music, listening to nature, lighting a candle, holding a rosary to begin to quiet yourself.
4. Breathing Exercise to Center yourself: Empty your mind of the world-Breath in God, Exhale the world. Find a word, for example, Jesus which you will say each time the world enters, until your mind and your heart are prepared to receive God.
Susan R.
susanmrc@optonline.net

Teresa Richardson said...

I am believing God to help me start writing a novel

Lizzy said...

I have a few emotional tsunamis all hitting at once--would love your book!

GrammaDeb said...

I love the visual of the tsunami. That is exactly what it feels like, but praise be to JESUS alone, HE does calm the storms when we first come to HIM!

Melinda said...

This was great as someone going through a period of "being still" this helped me focus. I love your words and your guidance

Hester's Heart said...

Julie, I love how you said, "Stay out of your head." Sooo true sister! And, "worship" - this helps me so much too.

Love to you and bless your day, Hester ;)

Paige Ward said...

Thank you for sharing the verses. Two of them really stuck out to me. Job 42:2 and Isaiah 26:3. What a comfort!

A Journey For Life said...

Learning to Be Still and listening for God.

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