23/07/2026
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5–6"
Peace is something we all want, but many of us struggle to hold onto it. It often feels like one difficult conversation, one unexpected phone call, or one troubling headline can steal it in an instant. The good news is that Scripture doesn't simply tell us to "have peace." It teaches us how to protect it. Over the next few days, we'll look at five common peace thieves and discover practical, biblical ways to keep them from controlling our hearts. My prayer is that these simple truths will help you experience the steady peace Jesus promised His followers.
Hi friend,
If I had to identify one of the greatest thieves of peace, it would be this: trying to control things that were never ours to control.
Most of us don't wake up in the morning thinking, Today I'm going to control everything. Yet we often spend our days trying to manage outcomes, predict the future, fix other people, and carry responsibilities that ultimately belong to God.
I've certainly been there.
When life feels uncertain, our instinct is often to grip tighter. We make more plans, replay conversations in our minds, and imagine every possible scenario, hoping that if we think hard enough, we can prevent disappointment.
The problem is that control always promises peace, but it never delivers.
King Jehoshaphat faced an impossible situation when a vast army marched toward Judah. He couldn't control the enemy, predict the outcome, or guarantee victory. Instead of pretending he had all the answers, he gathered the people and prayed, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chronicles 20:12
That may be one of the most honest prayers in Scripture.
Sometimes peace begins when we're willing to admit that we don't have everything figured out.
Jesus echoed this truth when He taught His disciples not to worry about tomorrow. He wasn't encouraging irresponsibility. He was reminding them that God never asked them to carry tomorrow before it arrived.
One question has helped me more than almost any other:
Is this my responsibility, or is this God's?
There are things we are called to do, pray, work faithfully, make wise decisions, love people well, and trust God.
Then there are things only God can do. When we confuse those two categories, peace disappears.
Today, release what you've been trying to control.
Your shoulders were never meant to carry what only God can hold.
