In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet called Jesus the Prince of Peace. The Lord is here to offer you peace of salvation that no one else can offer you. The Lord makes peace for us through the blood he shed on the cross. The cross represents peace.

There is something about becoming fully comfortable with God. There is something about accepting the Lord’s promises and understanding His selfless sacrifices. These feelings of adoration bring our souls peace.

It is not an easy or a simplified process, but it is a process that is never ending.  In order to find that comfort with God, you must be vulnerable. This involves exposing yourself. But exposing your ghosts, secrets, and dirty hands is intimidating.

I have struggled with anxiety and depression from a young age. I’ve experienced panic attacks over very minor incidents. I have lost sleep over constant thoughts. I never believed that my mind and soul could ever be healed from such a common disorder. I will admit, nonetheless, that I enticed my anxiety and depression as I abused alcohol, drugs, and my body. Whether I did that on purpose I may never admit to.

However, now I sleep in peace.

Then a time came, where I collapsed into a cascade of tears. There came a time where I finally admitted my shameful sins, asked for God’s forgiveness, and let His healing hand take it all off my shoulders. I was overwhelmed with thankfulness, joy, praise, and overall peace. I have never felt such harmony within myself. In that moment, there was a direct connection between me, and the Trinity: our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It saddens me to think not everyone feels this perfect peace. It is what gets me up in the morning, it’s what keeps me hopeful when a school shooting results in 17 dead bodies. It’s what makes me break into worship when it seems like the whole world is falling apart. Although there is evil in the world, and we feel pain sink deep into our organs, our God is still good. His love will remain forever. That is something to be grateful for.

When the world changes, God remains the same. When I bear grief or pain, I will wait on the Lord to bring order and provision. When my heart and mind are racing, I will choose to be still and rest in the hands of our Heavenly Father. When I feel rejection, defeat, sorrow, anger, I remind myself that the Lord still loves me and that is enough. I am at peace.

Even though I struggle, get confused, and feel pain, I still reach out to a personal God of grace who gives me comfort and uncanny peace. Instead of putting my deepest hopes in things like my career, my friends, my future husband, my appearance or my performance, I place them in the hands of the Lord who gives me strength. The Spirit of God not only created me, He gave my life back to me after I gave it to the devil. He allowed me to let go of my past and granted me a new, redeemed life.

We are made for more than what the devil has for us. All that results from the devil is disappoint, dissatisfaction, discomfort, unworthiness, lies, destruction, and death. I have learned that when I turn away from evil, I am able to seek and pursue peace. When things don’t go my way, I still feel joy because God still loves me. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus proclaimed, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God saves by grace, accomplishes salvation, and loves unconditionally. His love is sufficient enough to replace any sadness or disappoint with joy. When we ask God, He promises us that His peace surpasses all understanding.