Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

40. Need More Peace? A Simple Habit to Notice When Peace Is Missing

• Ginger Harrington • Season 1 • Episode 40

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Welcome to the first episode of our Habits of Peace Summer Series—short, soul-reset solo episodes to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect with God. 

If life feels loud, rushed, or heavy, peace can seem far away. In this kickoff episode, we’re talking about the kind of peace that can’t be manufactured—and how one small habit can help you notice when it’s missing and begin to receive what Jesus already gave. This summer, we’re pressing pause to make space for God’s steady, unshakable peace—one habit at a time.

Read the full article here.

💡 Habit of Hope:

Pause and ask:

  • “Where is peace missing in my heart right now?”
  • “Jesus, what kind of peace are You offering me today?”

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • Peace is not something you earn—it’s something you receive.
  • The world’s peace is temporary, but Jesus offers peace that lasts.
  • In the Bible, peace isn’t just the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of Christ and the wholeness God brings.
     → Eirēnē (Greek) reflects the peace of Christ—tranquil, steady, and rooted in His presence.
    → Shalom (Hebrew) speaks of total well-being, harmony, and wholeness in every part of life.
  • Noticing when peace is absent is the first step to receiving the peace of Christ.

📌 Memorable Quotes:

“Peace isn’t something you create. Peace is something you receive.”
 – Ginger Harrington“You don’t have to earn peace. Jesus already gave it.”
 – Ginger Harrington“Peace begins with noticing—and receiving what Christ has already given.”
 – Ginger Harrington


🎙️ Why You’ll Love This Episode:

If you’ve ever felt unsettled, spiritually tired, or emotionally overwhelmed—even in a season that’s supposed to feel restful—this episode will meet you with honesty, truth, and a gentle invitation to reconnect with God’s peace.

✨ Don’t Miss:

  • The powerful context of John 14:27—peace offered before the cross
  • The truth about counterfeit peace (and why it never lasts)
  • A moment of personal reflection that shows how noticing peace can change everything

Habits of Hope Podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Feeling overwhelmed this summer? Discover how to receive God’s peace with John 14:27 and simple faith habits that calm your heart today.


Ever find yourself saying, ‘I just need a little peace? The funny thing about peace is that you appreciate it most when you don’t have it. 

If your heart feels hurried or your soul feels cluttered, this is for you.
 🎧 Listen to Episode 1 here – “Need a Little Peace?”

Why Peace Feels So Hard to Find—Even in Summer

Hey friend—before we dive in today, I want to share something new we’re doing here on the podcast.

Summer brings a different rhythm, doesn’t it?
 Maybe your days feel full, or maybe they feel a little scattered.
 Schedules shift, routines get messy, and even the good things—like travel or time with family—can leave our souls feeling a bit worn thin.

And studies back this up—more than 60% of people report feeling just as stressed—or even more stressed—during summer due to travel planning, disrupted routines, financial pressure, and managing kids at home.
What’s supposed to feel restful can actually leave us running on empty.
If that’s you? You’re not alone.

That’s why, for the next few weeks, we’re slowing things down with a special series called Habits of Peace.

This summer, stress doesn’t get the final word.
 Whether you’re juggling routines, travel, or tension at home, the Peace Series offers a toolkit of biblical stress busters—quick, practical faith habits to anchor your heart and renew your mind.
Less pressure. More peace. Right where you are.

Life doesn’t slow down just because it’s summer.
 In these short episodes and articles, we’re pressing pause to practice peace—one habit at a time.
 
 

Each week, you’ll get a simple way to invite God’s peace into your real, everyday moments.
  


Everyday Stress Triggers that Can Steal Your Peace

Let’s be real—peace can feel like a distant dream when the stressors of daily life press in. Here are just a few things that can quietly chip away at our calm:

 

●         The pace of life is so busy, you’re considering installing a revolving door on your house.

●         The house is such a wreck, you can’t think straight.

●         Laundry has taken over and is threatening to swallow you whole.

●         There’s too much month left at the end of the money.

●         There’s no white space on the calendar—and no margin for rest in the schedule.

●         You can’t remember your last quiet moment—frazzled becomes both a hairstyle and a state of mind.

●         No matter how hard you try to get your ducks in a row, one ALWAYS gets away.

●         Summer travel requires the logistics of a military operation.

●         Hosting houseguests when what your soul really needed was solitude.

●         Children are crying, fussing, arguing, screaming, or banging—sometimes all at once.

 

Sound familiar?


 You’re not alone—and that’s exactly why we’re talking about peace in this series


 Because peace isn’t about perfect circumstances.


 It’s about receiving what Jesus is already offering—right in the middle of all this.

I chose this theme because I’ve been feeling it too. The pressure. The noise. The weight of the world and the swirl in my own thoughts.
 
 

One thing’s for sure, peace is a priceless commodity that we’ll never find on sale at Wal-Mart!

 

Many things parade as peace. Some things promise peace.

 

Lots of things look like peace–counterfeit peace–but there isn’t really any true substitute for peace. 

Peace can’t be manufactured, processed, or imitated. Not really. Not in any way that lasts.

 

And I’ve realized—peace isn’t something I can just will into being.
It’s something I need to receive.

So if you’re longing for more calm in your spirit… if your mind feels cluttered or your heart feels heavy… this series is for you.

Together, we’ll practice noticing where peace is missing—and learning how to receive it in everyday moments, one habit at a time.


 Because God’s peace is not out of reach. It’s already been given.

 

What John 14:27 Really Means About Receiving Peace from Jesus

 

Today we’re anchoring in a beautiful promise from Jesus in John 14:27:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Let’s talk about the context for a moment.
 
 

Jesus is speaking these words on the night before the cross. He’s gathered with His disciples in the Upper Room.


 He’s just washed their feet. Judas has left to betray Him. Peter’s denial has been foretold.
 
 

And Jesus is preparing His friends—His closest followers—for what’s coming: His death, their confusion, and the days ahead without His physical presence.

In the middle of all of that, He says:
 
 

“Peace I leave with you… my peace I give to you.”

This wasn’t a casual comment.


 It was a deeply intentional moment—spoken into anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.


 He knew their hearts were troubled, and He offered peace before the storm even broke.

In this verse we discover that peace is a gift—not a generic one-size-fits-all peace. My peace (the peace of God) I give to you. Wrapped up tight in this God-peace is God’s name.

 

His power.

His trustworthiness.

 

Because He is peace and He is present, our hearts can rest. Fear has no place when God’s peace is present. What a blessing. What a gift. Don’t you need a little peace today?

 

Now let’s look a little deeper at that word peace.

In the Old Testament, "shalom" is used to describe the peace God gives, the peace between people, and the peace with oneself. The concept of shalom emphasizes the importance of wholeness and well-being, not just the absence of conflict.  

In the original Greek, the word is eirēnē—and it means far more than the absence of conflict. It encompasses a sense of tranquility, harmony, and well-being, and it’s linked to the peace that comes from Christ that is beyond our understanding. 

When Jesus says, “My peace I give you,” He’s not offering a feeling.
 
 

He’s offering Himself.


 His kind of peace is steady and unshakable. It’s not something the world can manufacture—and it’s not something the world can take away.

This isn’t peace based on good circumstances. It’s not the “everything’s fine” kind of peace we sometimes try to fake.


 It’s His peace—present, powerful, already ours.


Peace isn’t something we earn, hustle for, or wait until life calms down to receive.
 
 

It’s given. Right here. Right now.


The Moment I Realized I Was Missing God’s Peace

Not long ago, I was anxious over something small—a quick decision that shouldn’t have rattled me.


 But my mind spun in circles, and my heart just wouldn’t settle. I paused, took a breath, and remembered John 14:27.

And in that moment, God gently reminded me:
 Peace isn’t something I create. Peace is something I receive.

But here’s the thing—I had to first notice that peace was missing.


 If I hadn’t slowed down long enough to pay attention to what was happening in my heart, I would have kept pushing through, missing the gift Jesus was offering.

So let me ask you:
 Where is peace missing in your life right now?
 Is it in a relationship? A decision? A worry that wakes you up at night?

Noticing where peace is absent can be the first step toward receiving it.

 


A Simple Habit to Help You Receive Peace Today

Here’s your Habit of Hope for today:
Pause and ask two simple questions:

  1. “Where is peace missing in my heart right now?”
  2. “Jesus, what kind of peace are You offering me today?”

Say them aloud. Write them in your journal. Whisper them in prayer. Let these questions become your mid-day reset or your bedtime surrender.
 
 

Peace begins with noticing—and then receiving what Christ has already given.


A Prayer for Peace When You Feel Overwhelmed

 

Jesus, thank You for giving us Your peace—deep, real, and always available.
 Help us pay attention to where peace is missing in our lives.
 Quiet our anxious thoughts. Guard our hearts from fear.
 Teach us to stop striving and start resting.
 We trust that You are near and Your peace is enough.
 In Your name, Amen.

Friend, peace is not out of reach.
 You don’t have to earn it.
 
 

Jesus already gave it—you just need to notice... and receive.