I noticed Jim’s hands as he was copying some papers at work. His fingernails were down to the quick, and I knew what that meant. His anxiety was starting to take over again. You could see it coming—a slight lack of focus, the way his posture slumped. His appearance had started to slip, too. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this. Ever since his divorce, Jim had been struggling. He’d always been a bit of a nervous guy, but when his wife left him, everything seemed to spiral out of control. His friends—myself included—were worried about him.
At one point, though, it seemed like Jim was getting better. Slowly but surely, he started pulling himself together. But lately, I could tell the anxiety was creeping back in. There’s a lot of uncertainty in our world today, and it’s not just personal struggles that make us anxious. It’s like there’s this constant drumbeat of bad news, fear, and chaos, and it’s easy to get caught in that cycle. It can feel like layers upon layers of problems piling up, each one more overwhelming than the last. And sometimes, those worries can get so bad that they rob us of our sleep or make it hard to enjoy anything life has to offer.
I know it can feel impossible to believe that there’s an alternative to living this way—like the anxiety is just something we have to accept. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t want us to live constantly overwhelmed by worry. He invites us to rest in His peace, and it’s a peace that goes beyond our understanding and our ability to control anything. In Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT), Jesus invites us: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Our beautiful Savior is telling us that we don’t need to have everything figured out. We don’t have to clean up our lives first, because the truth is that we can’t. We desperately need him, and he’s just saying, “Come to me as you are, with your burdens, your fears, your worries—and I’ll give you rest.”
Those feelings of worry and anxiety not only affect us emotionally and mentally, but physically too. They can deplete and exhaust us, even cause more serious physical illness. It helps us to remember that God’s Holy Spirit lives within, and there, he is willing and able to help us in ways we can’t imagine.
Those feelings of worry and anxiety don’t just affect us emotionally and mentally—they can take a serious toll on us physically, too. Chronic stress and anxiety can drain our energy, leave us feeling exhausted, and even open the door to physical illness. It’s amazing how something as invisible as worry can affect our bodies so deeply. But here’s where the truth of God’s Word brings hope: we’re not meant to carry that weight on our own. The Holy Spirit, who lives within every believer, is not only our comforter but our helper in ways we often can’t even imagine. When life feels overwhelming, when we’re physically drained and emotionally spent, we can remember that God’s Spirit is with us, ready to strengthen us. Romans 8:11 (NLT) reminds us of this incredible truth: “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
This is such a powerful promise! The same Spirit that brought Jesus back to life is alive in us, bringing renewal, strength, and life—not just spiritually, but physically as well. When we’re feeling depleted by anxiety or worry, the Holy Spirit is there to help us find rest and refreshment. God knows our limitations, and He’s given us His Spirit to help us press on, restore our strength, and experience peace—even in the middle of our physical and emotional exhaustion.
When you’re thinking about how to grab on to God’s peace, Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) is the way to handle anxiety. Through the Apostle Paul, God tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” This is a powerful promise. Peace doesn’t just show up in calm, quiet moments, it comes even when we don’t understand everything. That’s the peace that God offers: one that guards our hearts and minds, even when we’re stressed or uncertain.
It’s such a comfort to know that God’s Word and His peace cover every part of us, filling us with His love and goodness. Just as I did with Jim, it’s a privilege to share these encouraging truths when the people around us need them most. We don’t have to have all the answers for them, but we can always point them to the peace that God offers. Jesus said in John 14:27 (NLT): “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” This peace is different. The world can’t offer it. It’s not something we can just get by trying harder or fixing our problems. It’s a gift from God, and when we accept it with faith, God’s peace will can actually shift us from worry and fear to delighting in the joy of Christ every day. When we rest in that peace, we stop trying to hold everything together ourselves and start relying on the One who holds all things together, including us.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Grab onto God’s Peace”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.