A Prayer for the Troubled Heart by Debbie McDaniel

This world can be a dark place many days.

News reports of shootings innocent lives being lost too soon, terrorist attacks, unrest,

and struggle are constant reminders that we live in uncertain times.

Past hurts clinging tightly, our present reality filled with pressures, the future may seem

to loom with fear.

Many times we wonder, is finding peace in the midst of all this even possible?

Often, living a peace-filled life comes down to a choice, choosing to come to him, choosing

to set our minds on his word, choosing to trust him no matter what, choosing to pray in

all that we face, choosing not to be anxious, choosing to believe that he's always with

us in in control, choosing to set our thoughts on those things that are true and right.

God reminds us in his word that peace will not naturally just come our way.

He tells to seek peace and pursue it, Psalm 34-14.

Some may offer their own advice, get away for a few days, relax, be happy, take a vacation,

tune out, just don't think about stressful stuff.

But it's only temporary relief in a crazy struggling world.

Vain attempts to cover desperate places of our souls with superficial external fixes.

The peace God offers is vastly different, it's lasting, confident, real, breathing deep

reassurance in the midst of all that we face, past, present, or future, rising up against

the fear that would seek to choke our lives, bringing comfort and freedom.

He sent his only son, pure essence of peace himself, to give us lasting freedom and peace

that only he can give.

...