“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
As I sat in silence one morning and thought about the day ahead, I froze. I needed to get going, to begin tending to the items on my never-ending to-do list. But I couldn't convince myself to move. Life had been super busy lately, and I was feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected responsibilities now on my plate. More than anything, I longed to get away from it all for a relaxing, stress-free weekend. I just needed a few days of peace.
My husband noticed the stress building up in me, so he took action and booked a short getaway at one of our favorite places. A cabin by the lake, surrounded by nature— it was exactly what my heart needed. After making quick work of packing, followed by a short drive, we pulled into the retreat, eager to unload, sit on the front porch of the cabin, and let the sounds of nature envelop us. I could sense a calmness in my spirit already and knew peace awaited me in this special place.
I grabbed my Bible and laptop and slid past the screen door to take in all that the serene surroundings had to offer. With one deep breath, I anticipated all my troubles fading away. But instead of hearing the calm rustle of leaves and birds chirping in the trees, the sound of a power saw cut through the stillness! It turned out that the construction of new cabins disrupted the peace I so desperately needed. How could I possibly find peace amid all that noise?
2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
After teaching and encouraging his fellow believers, the Apostle Paul concluded his letter to the church at Thessalonica with this prayer for peace. It reminds me of the way we like to add the word “himself” to the end of an introduction. It emphasizes someone’s importance when we’re excited about their very presence. And what could be more exciting than the Prince of Peace himself?
Jesus said, “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 14:27). (I love how the English Standard Version uses the phrase “the Lord of peace himself” to perfectly describe Jesus, our Prince of Peace [Isaiah 9:6].) So we know without a doubt that Jesus’ peace is with us right now, right where we are. It is not some elusive idea we hope to find but seems just out of reach most days. Paul echoed the truth that Jesus uttered when he gave us the gift of everlasting peace. The same peace he carried with him when he endured the pain of the cross for you and me.
The peace of Jesus is so powerful, it can be experienced not only at our favorite lakeside retreat but also in times of trouble or stress. It is with us— sitting on a porch overlooking the lake or right smack in the middle of day-to-day life. So while getting away from it all may provide a welcome, temporary respite, we find lasting peace in Jesus’ presence. In our homes, at work, beside a hospital bed, alone, or in a crowd of people. The Lord is with us, giving us peace at all times in every way. May we remember this heart-settling truth from Jesus himself, today and every day.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the incredible gift of peace through your presence. Sometimes I feel so stressed and weighed down by the worries of everyday life that I forget your peace is available to me at all times. I am grateful for chances to get away to unwind and enjoy a quiet respite, but I also know that even in the midst of troubles and chaos, your peace can calm my heart and mind. Help me to rediscover your everlasting peace right now, right where I am. In your name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/TomMerton
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 08 February 2024.
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