The Peace of God — Amongst the Storms

When the Storm Is Raging Around You, It Doesn't Have to Rage Within You!

From the Pastor's Desk | Pastor Eric SchroederRadiant New Life Church | October 11, 2026

Finding Peace When Life Feels Uncertain

There are moments in life when the storms around us seem overwhelming. The winds of adversity begin to blow, circumstances change unexpectedly, and suddenly we find ourselves facing uncertainty, fear, and anxiety.

Sometimes these storms come through financial difficulties, health concerns, family struggles, broken relationships, or situations beyond our control. Other times, they are literal storms that remind us just how quickly life can change.

This past week, as our community watched another storm developing near the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Michael, I began thinking about the memories, fears, and anxieties that many people might be experiencing.

For those who lived through Hurricane Michael, the possibility of another storm can bring back painful memories. The uncertainty of what might happen can quickly begin to steal our peace.

As I was thinking about these things, the Lord reminded me of something powerful:

"AM I NOT THE PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM?"

That question carries a truth every believer needs to understand.

The peace of God is not determined by what is happening around us, but by WHO is reigning within us.

When Jesus Christ rules our hearts, fear does not have to rule our minds.

God's Peace Is Greater Than Our Anxiety

In Philippians 4:6–7, the Apostle Paul instructs believers not to be consumed by anxiety but to bring everything before God through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving.

He then gives us a wonderful promise: the peace of God, which surpasses our understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Notice that Scripture does not promise that every difficult circumstance will immediately disappear.

Instead, it promises something even greater.

God's peace will guard us in the middle of whatever we are facing.

Anxiety often begins with the unknown. We worry about tomorrow, what might happen, what someone might do, or how a difficult situation will turn out.

Fear causes us to magnify the problem until it becomes the primary focus of our thoughts.

Anxiety says, "Look how big this problem is!"

But faith responds, "Look how great my God is!"

The enemy desires to use anxiety to pull us away from faith and into fear. When our minds become consumed with everything that could go wrong, we begin losing sight of the One who holds our future.

This is why Paul tells us to pray with thanksgiving.

We do not have to wait until the answer arrives before we begin thanking God. We can thank Him because we know He hears us, loves us, and remains faithful.

Thanksgiving shifts our attention away from the size of the problem and toward the greatness of our God.

Your Faith Must Be Exercised

Think about someone who wants to become physically stronger.

A bodybuilder does not develop strength by avoiding resistance. Strength develops through consistent exercise, endurance, and gradually increasing challenges.

Our faith grows in much the same way.

There will be times when trusting God seems easy because everything is going well. But there will also be seasons when we must continue standing on His Word even though we cannot see the answer.

Sometimes faith requires patience.

Sometimes faith requires endurance.

Sometimes faith means continuing to pray when circumstances have not changed.

And sometimes faith means standing firm when everything around us is telling us to give up.

Every time we choose to trust God instead of surrendering to fear, we are exercising our faith.

The enemy fights our faith because faith keeps us connected to God's promises and moving forward in His purposes.

We must also strengthen our faith by spending time in the Word of God.

If we are not reading, studying, and understanding Scripture, we leave our hearts and minds vulnerable to deception. The enemy has always attempted to twist God's Word, and believers must know the truth well enough to recognize the lie.

A mind established in God's Word is better equipped to resist fear and remain steadfast during difficult seasons.

The Storm Did Not Cancel the Destination!

One of the most powerful accounts of Jesus demonstrating His authority over a storm is found in Mark 4:35–41.

Jesus told His disciples that they were going to the other side of the sea.

That statement is important because Jesus had already declared their destination before the storm ever began.

The disciples entered the boat, and Jesus went with them.

But somewhere between the promise and the destination, a violent storm arose.

The winds began blowing, the waves crashed against the boat, and the disciples became terrified.

Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep.

The disciples woke Him, fearful that they were about to perish.

Jesus arose and commanded the wind and waves to be still. Immediately, the storm submitted to His authority.

But there is something else we must recognize.

In Mark 5:1, Scripture tells us that they arrived on the other side.

THE STORM DID NOT CANCEL THE DESTINATION!

Jesus never promised His disciples that they would not encounter a storm.

He told them they were going to the other side!

The storm was real. The danger was real. The fear the disciples experienced was real.

But none of those circumstances had the authority to overrule what Jesus had spoken.

How often do we allow the storms of life to cause us to forget what God has already declared?

We begin with confidence in His promises, but when opposition comes, we start questioning whether we will ever reach the destination.

We must remember that circumstances do not have greater authority than Jesus Christ.

When God has spoken, we must continue trusting Him even when the journey becomes difficult.

And notice something else.

Jesus was already in the boat before the storm began.

He did not abandon His disciples when the winds became violent. He was with them throughout the journey.

The same Jesus who commanded the winds and waves is the same Jesus who promises to remain with His people today.

THE PRESENCE OF A STORM DOES NOT MEAN THE ABSENCE OF GOD!

The Peace Jesus Gives Is Different From the World's Peace

In John 14:27, Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving them His peace, a peace unlike anything the world could offer.

The world's understanding of peace is often based on circumstances.

When everything is going well, we feel peaceful.

When the bills are paid, relationships are healthy, and life is moving according to plan, we feel secure.

But when something unexpected happens, that sense of peace can quickly disappear.

The peace Jesus gives is different.

The world's peace depends on circumstances. The peace of Jesus comes from our relationship with Him.

His peace is not limited by what is happening in the natural world.

It is rooted in His character, His faithfulness, His promises, and His presence.

This means we can experience peace even when we do not understand what is happening.

We can remain confident even when we cannot see the outcome.

And we can continue trusting God even when the storm has not yet stopped.

Our peace is not found in having control over everything around us.

Our peace is found in trusting the One who has authority over everything around us.

Perfect Peace Begins With a Steadfast Mind

Isaiah 26:3 teaches us that God keeps those whose minds remain steadfast on Him in perfect peace because they trust Him.

There is a direct connection between our peace and where we place our focus.

When we continually focus on our problems, our problems begin to dominate our thoughts.

When we focus on the uncertainty of tomorrow, anxiety begins to influence our decisions.

But when we keep our minds fixed on Jesus Christ and His Word, our hearts become established in His truth.

This does not mean we ignore reality.

It means we refuse to allow circumstances to become greater in our thinking than the promises of God.

We cannot allow ourselves to be strong in faith one moment and completely overwhelmed by fear the next.

There must be a steadfastness in our walk with Christ.

Faith says:

"I am going to stand. I am going to keep walking. I am going to keep trusting. No matter what comes against me, I am keeping my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!"

The storms may be loud, but God's Word must become louder in our hearts.

Take Courage — Jesus Has Already Overcome!

In John 16:33, Jesus reminds us that we will experience tribulation in this world, but He also tells us to take courage because He has overcome the world.

Jesus never promised a life without trouble.

He promised that we could have peace in Him despite trouble.

Courage is not simply the absence of fear.

Courage is the decision to trust God and move forward even when circumstances attempt to intimidate us.

Just as faith must be exercised, courage must also be exercised.

There will be moments when we must refuse to retreat.

There will be moments when we must stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.

There will be moments when everything around us seems to be saying that we will never make it.

But our response must be grounded in the truth of God's Word.

"I WILL MAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE MY CONFIDENCE IS IN JESUS CHRIST!"

We must also be careful about what we are speaking during the storm.

Are we continually speaking fear, defeat, and hopelessness?

Or are we speaking the promises of God?

Our words reveal what we are allowing to rule our hearts.

We must refuse to partner with fear and instead declare the truth of God's Word over our lives.

Speak faith.

Speak truth.

Speak the promises of God.

And above all, keep your eyes on Jesus.

Sometimes Jesus Calms the Storm — Sometimes He Carries Us Through It

There is an important truth we must embrace as believers.

Sometimes God intervenes and circumstances change suddenly.

The storm stops.

The answer comes.

The situation turns around.

But there are also seasons when God leads us through difficult circumstances, strengthening our faith and teaching us to trust Him along the way.

In both situations, His presence remains faithful.

The disciples still had a journey to complete after Jesus calmed the storm.

Likewise, there may still be steps we must take, decisions we must make, and challenges we must overcome.

But we do not have to face those things alone.

Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes He carries us through the storm. But His peace is available to us in EVERY storm!

The storm does not have to determine the condition of our hearts.

Fear does not have to control our decisions.

Anxiety does not have to govern our thoughts.

Jesus Christ has made His peace available to us.

The Storm Does Not Have the Final Word — Jesus Does!

Church, I want to encourage you today.

Whatever storm you may be facing, do not allow it to convince you that God has forgotten you.

Do not allow the enemy to persuade you that your situation is hopeless.

Do not allow fear to determine your response.

And do not allow the waves around you to distract you from the One who is in your boat.

The same Jesus who commanded the wind and waves to be still is the same Jesus who walked upon the water.

He is the same Jesus we serve today!

When the enemy tries to convince you that you will never make it, remember His Word.

When the winds are blowing and the waves are crashing, stand firm in your faith.

When you cannot see the other side, trust the One who can.

And when everything around you seems to be falling apart, let the peace of God rule in your heart.

THE STORM MAY BE RAGING AROUND YOU, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO RAGE WITHIN YOU!

Your peace is not found in the absence of a storm.

YOUR PEACE IS FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST!

From the Pastor's DeskPastor Eric SchroederRadiant New Life Church