The Secret to Ongoing Peace That Doesn’t Break When Life Does

In life, without Jesus, people keep chasing happiness, thinking it’s some sort of lasting thing. So, happiness can last a few hours… a day… a weekend… maybe even a few months or more. Just as in addiction, they are chasing the next ‘high’. You have to understand that happiness is a fleeting emotion that is easily influenced by our circumstances. Happiness is based on what happens. It is totally dependent on circumstances. It depends on others treating us right, things going our way, or moment to moment emotions. What happens when life doesn’t cooperate?

Jesus offers us something far better… His peace and His joy, which are rooted not in what’s happening around us, but in what He is doing within us. Unlike the emotional high of happiness, joy and peace in Christ are soul-deep, Spirit-given, and unshakable, so it never leaves or abandons us!

In John 14:27, Jesus said:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The world offers temporary relief at best.. Some of the things people reach for to bring happiness is entertainment, escape, comfort food, drugs, constant success, shopping, approval. There are a myriad of others… I’m sure you can think of many more. Just remember that the peace Jesus gives holds steady even in storms. It’s the calm confidence that no matter what happens, we belong to God forever, and He is in control.

Likewise, joy doesn’t mean we’re always smiling, but that we have an inner strength that sustains us through trials. As Nehemiah 8:10 says:

“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In recovery, and going forward, this becomes vital. When old temptations return or when life hits hard, emotional highs won’t be enough to carry us through. But joy rooted in Christ empowers us to keep going, keep believing, and keep growing in Him.

The apostle Paul, who wrote many of his letters from prison, said in Philippians 4:11–13:

“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The above verse doesn’t describe happiness based on comfort. Paul is speaking of peace and joy flowing from a heart grounded in Christ, by His Holy Spirit. Paul wasn’t relying on good vibes or perfect circumstances… he had found something eternal. We are Heaven bound for all eternity!!! What’s better than that. After all, we’re only here on earth for a very short time.

In your recovery, and in your walk with Jesus, don’t settle for momentary happiness. Seek the peace that guards your heart when life is uncertain (Philippians 4:6–7), and the joy that endures even when tears fall. These are not self-manufactured. They are the fruit that comes with walking closely with God (Galatians 5:22).

Reflective Coaching Questions for your journaling:

1. Have I been chasing happiness, or am I pursuing God’s peace instead?
2. When I lose my sense of joy, what does that usually reveal about my focus or priorities?
3. What is one situation right now where I need to trade anxiety for God’s peace?
4. Am I trying to control outcomes to feel better, or am I learning to trust God in the unknown?
5. What does the “joy of the Lord” look like in my daily life, and how do I know if I’m walking in it?
6. Do I believe God’s peace and joy can be mine even in suffering? Why or why not?
7. What small step can I take this week to pursue God’s presence instead of chasing emotional relief offered by the world?

Be blessed by staying close to Jesus instead of the world.

Are you looking to spend the rest of your life in recovery as the world does, or, do you want to Recover Once… and be Healed for a Lifetime? CLICK HERE to find out more.