How to Find Peace When Life Is Stressful - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 16, 2026
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV
What I thought would be a minor repair to one of our bathrooms turned into a significant repair and renovation project, leaving our family with a huge surprise bill. Thankfully, I remembered to turn my worries into prayers during that stressful time – and as I did so, God gave me peace, despite my circumstances.
Doesn’t it sound wonderful to be able to experience “peace at all times and in every way”? Maybe it sounds unrealistic at first, since you’re living in a fallen world that’s full of stress. But it’s really possible.
This verse is a powerful prayer that asks the Lord of peace himself – Jesus, the source of all peace – to give you peace at all times and in every way.
When the verse says this peace is for “all times,” it’s promising that God’s peace is available to you regardless of anything that’s happening in your life. Even when a massive crisis hits, God promises to give you peace. This promise also covers the challenging times when you have to wait for something significant to you, but God’s perfect timing hasn’t yet arrived for him to answer your prayers. God’s peace will sustain you while you wait, so you can remain hopeful as God’s process unfolds.
Then 2 Thessalonians 3:16 says “in every way,” which means God’s gift of peace will cover every corner of your life. God’s peace is perfect, so that you can rely on it in every situation and with every person in your life. If you’re struggling with a difficult decision in challenging circumstances, you can ask God for the peace you need to make the best choice. If you’re working with a complicated relationship, you can ask God to give peace to manage that connection peacefully, no matter what the other person does. The more you pray for peace, the more you’ll experience Jesus himself responding to help you with whatever you need. You don’t have to fight anxiety on your own; you can rely on God to fight anxiety for you.
This is a tremendous blessing for your well-being. God’s peace affects your spirit, mind, and body together. When you receive the peace Jesus wants to give you, you can really rest with confidence that God is working for the best with everything and everyone you pray about. You can stop worrying, start trusting, and look forward to discovering the wonder of God’s work in your life every day.
God wants you to enjoy peace in this challenging world. But you can’t force peace through your own efforts. You have to ask God for it, and then be willing to receive it with trust. So, if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or tired right now, stop striving for peace. Instead, pray for the peace you need, and open your heart to receive it.
When you feel a powerful peace start to settle over you, you’re experiencing the blessing that ends 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “The Lord be with all of you.” The presence of Jesus with you is the source of your peace. When you focus on Jesus’ presence with you, all your worries will fade away because you’ll have a strong sense of confidence that Jesus will help you with absolutely every one of your needs. You don’t have to wait for a quiet time to find Jesus. The Lord of peace is with you right now, in the middle of whatever you’re going through, ready to give you peace that’s greater than all of your challenges. All you have to do is ask and allow yourself to receive it!
Let’s pray:
Dear God, I confess that I often try to manage my challenges with my own limited strength, and as a result, I lose my peace. Thank you for being the Lord of peace and for having unlimited strength. I don’t want to worry about what I’m facing anymore. I’m going to stop striving and start trusting you to give me peace at all times and in every way. As I surrender my worries about my challenges to you, please fill my mind and heart with your perfect peace. Since your presence is the source of my peace, please help me notice you with me and connect with you. Thank you for helping me overcome anxiety and giving me the confidence I need to face every situation with your perfect peace. Amen.
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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!
