Finding Peace in a Busy World

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”—John 14:27 

Do you ever feel like life is moving too fast? Like you're on a treadmill that keeps speeding up, no matter how hard you try to slow it down? Between work, family, friendships, and the endless demands on your time, it can feel impossible to catch your breath. I’ve been there—running on empty, wondering if peace was just some far-off dream.

One day, I found myself juggling a hundred things at once. I had deadlines looming, a friend who needed advice, and my phone was buzzing with texts and reminders. It felt like my brain was spinning plates, and at any moment, everything would come crashing down. In that moment, I remembered a verse from Isaiah 26:3 that I had read earlier that week: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”

I paused. I hadn’t been trusting God with the chaos in my life. I had been relying on my own strength, trying to keep everything together on my own, and let me tell you, it wasn’t working. So I did something radical—I stopped. I sat down, took a few deep breaths, and prayed, “Lord, I need Your peace. I can’t do this on my own.”

That simple prayer didn’t magically erase my to-do list, but something shifted in me. I realized that peace isn’t the absence of chaos; it’s the presence of God in the middle of it.

In our busy world, it’s easy to think that peace will come when everything slows down, when life is more manageable, or when we’ve crossed everything off our list. But the truth is, life rarely slows down for long. And if we’re waiting for the world to change so we can find peace, we’ll be waiting forever. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” His peace is different. It doesn’t come from external circumstances; it comes from within, from trusting Him right in the middle of the madness.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that finding peace requires intentionality. Peace doesn’t just happen to us; we have to pursue it. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace God offers us is beyond our understanding, meaning it won’t always make sense. When the world is in chaos, we might still feel calm, grounded in His presence.

But how do we experience that kind of peace in practical ways when life feels overwhelming? One thing I’ve found helpful is creating space for quiet moments with God throughout my day. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated—a few minutes to pray, reflect, or even just breathe deeply and remind myself of God’s promises. Those moments act like an anchor, pulling me back to the peace He offers.

Another thing that helps is recognizing when I’m carrying burdens that aren’t mine to carry. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I’m guilty of picking up burdens I was never meant to carry—whether it’s worry about the future, stress about things outside my control, or even trying to please everyone around me. Jesus reminds me that I can hand those burdens over to Him.

The world is always going to be busy. There will always be demands, responsibilities, and challenges. But peace is possible, not because the world will slow down, but because God is with us in the middle of it all. His peace is available to us right here, right now. We just have to reach out and receive it.

Maybe today, you need to pause, take a deep breath, and ask God for His peace. Maybe you’ve been striving, juggling, and doing it all on your own strength. But here’s the beautiful truth—God is offering you a peace that doesn’t require everything to be perfect. It’s a peace that meets you where you are, in the mess, the busyness, and the noise, and says, “I’m with you. I’ve got this.”

So, when life feels overwhelming and the world is pressing in from all sides, remember that God’s peace is different. It’s not about finding calm in the storm but finding God in the storm, knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you. That’s the kind of peace that can carry us through anything.

Let’s take a moment to slow down, even in the middle of a busy day, and invite Him into our chaos. He’s ready to offer us His peace—it’s just a prayer away.

May the amazing grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the presence and fellowhip of the Holy Spirit be with you.

In His love.

ray mileur