How to Find Peace When Life Won’t Slow Down
Written and Read by Michelle Treacy
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8
SOMETHING TO PONDER
King David likely wrote these words after his son Absalom has assumed the throne from him, and it correlates with the passages found in 2 Samuel 15-18. At this point in time David had left Jerusalem and was now at the other side of the Jordan river.
Now, I don’t know how I would have felt if my son had done what Absalom had chosen to do to David. But I can imagine that most of us would be left bitter, frustrated, angry even. Yet Davids first response it seems is to lean into God and to pray. I love that he begins the Psalm so passionately, but he is also clear, the God who heard him before would hear him again.
I know when I look back, like David did, that I see Gods steady hand on circumstances in my life and that gives me this assurance to believe that he will be as steady now.
In our lives right now, my husband and I are busy! I don’t even know how to explain all the ways in which our lives are twisted and pulled. But I know that there are days I say to my husband, “I haven’t even had a minute with God today”. Now I am a firm believer that I can talk to God anywhere and He hears me. But I also know the profound benefit of taking time aside to sit with Him, to read, pray, worship, and breathe in his presence. So, when I say I haven’t had a minute, I usually mean for the latter.
I imagine running from his own son David was lacking in minutes with God too. The Temple would not have been available to him to go to sit in, worship at and so likely David was praying as he went. Yet He knew God would still hear him.
Thankfully God doesn’t need a Pinterest ready moment to hear us, or for us to hear him. Wherever we are Gods presence can be found because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
The thing I love most about David is these words in Psalm 4v8, the ones we read at the beginning, that tell us that he lay down and slept in peace, because He knew a vital truth, even in the calamity, even in chaos, even when his palace was invaded, his heart was hurt, his home was taken over, his position was stolen, that God was his peace.
God was the place he found peace, and in God he could find rest and sleep. It is a beautiful nod in the direction of Psalm 23 that talks about the Lord being our shepherd and him being all that we need. David lived this well, despite all his mistakes.
And so tonight id like to leave you with the same thoughts, whatever it is you battle, whatever you face, be it chaos, trial, brokenness, sadness, grief, whatever it is know this, God is your peace. In Him you have all you need, and in Him you will be able to find rest, because He is the one who leads us beside still waters.
You can trust God to be all that you need.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
In the midst of the chaos, I see around me, the mounting schedules that I can do nothing about, the to do list that grows incessantly and the lack of rest time. I ask that you in your grace and mercy would help me to keep my eyes fixed on you. Help me to focus on the giver of rest, the one who lifts my head.
Lord, would you teach me how to find rest like you did when you walked graciously on this earth. Show me the spaces that I can sneak a few moments aside with my saviour and forgive me Lord when I simply don’t have time to come aside.
Holy Spirit, as I drive to work, tidy the dishes, rock my babies to bed, or work from the never ending to do list would you speak to my soul.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Maybe today we can focus on God, whose mercies are new every day. Friend, maybe today the to-do list will win and you won’t get time to sit with the Lord. It is on those days that I remind myself of His grace and His mercy and how they will be new again for me tomorrow. Rest in the forgiving, gracious, loving God that He lavishes on us, and don’t allow guilt to get in.
2. Today, let's meditate on the loving kindness of our God and remember we can pray wherever we are. Call to remembrance a verse you know and pray as you go today, leaning into the Father and turning every job into a holy moment with Jesus. Your salvation is not based on how much time you spend with God, and sometimes there are seasons when that time is less than you would like, but he loves you deeply, and that time will turn around, and you will get more.
3. Lastly, in the very next Psalm we read the following: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Ps5) Friend, even if the only prayer you pray today is before your feet touch the ground know that the Lord hears your voice, and you can await His response expectantly.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Anthony Tran
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Originally published Friday, 04 July 2025.
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