5 Ways to Be Peaceful in Turbulent Times
By Kristi Stoughton
If you live in New England, you know a thing or two about turbulence. We have weather that changes every fifteen minutes. We have those terrifying rotaries where nobody seems to know what they’re doing.
Life in ministry can feel exactly like navigating a rotary in a blizzard.
Life in ministry can feel exactly like navigating a rotary in a blizzard. You are spinning in circles, the visibility is low, and you are pretty sure the guy in the truck next to you is not paying attention.
At By Design Ministries, we see you. We know that as leaders, you are often the ones absorbing the anxiety of the people you serve. You are the calm center for everyone else. But who keeps you calm?
When the world feels loud and chaotic, we need a strategy to protect our hearts. Here are five ways to find peace when the waters get choppy.
1. Remember Who is in the boat
I love the story in Mark 4 where the disciples are panicking in a storm. The waves are crashing over the boat. They are bailing water. And Jesus? He is asleep on a cushion. I used to think Jesus was just exhausted. Now I realize He was at peace because He knew who commanded the seas: He did. When you feel panic rising, stop and whisper, “The Creator of the winds is sitting right here with me.”
2. Curate your inputs
We cannot have a peaceful spirit if we are consuming chaos twenty-four hours a day. It is tempting to scroll through news headlines or social media feeds until we are numb. I challenge you to try a “peace fast.” For every minute you spend looking at the news, spend two minutes in the Psalms. Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
3. Live by design, not default
Chaos often pushes us into “default mode” where we just react to the loudest urgency. But God created you on purpose and for a purpose. When things feel turbulent, go back to the basics of your calling. What has God specifically asked you to do today? You do not have to solve every problem in the world. You just need to be faithful to your specific assignment.
4. Schedule a “worry window”
This sounds funny, but it works. When I am stressed, my brain tries to solve problems at 3:00 a.m. Now, I tell myself, “I am not going to worry about the budget right now. I have scheduled 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday to worry about that.” It frees your mind to rest in the present moment. Most of the things we worry about never actually happen anyway.
5. Laugh at the days to come
Proverbs 31 speaks of the woman of noble character who “laughs at the days to come.” That does not mean she is unaware of reality. It means her confidence in God is so strong that fear does not steal her joy. Find reasons to laugh. Watch a funny movie. Share a ridiculous moment with a friend. Laughter is a spiritual weapon against despair.
Stay anchored, friends. You are loved, you are called, and you are never alone in the storm.
Kristi Stoughton is the Associate Director of By Design. She is a native of New Hampshire, where she currently resides with her husband Brian in a little lakeside cottage. They take great joy in their two sons, daughter-in-law, and baby granddaughter. As a Christian speaker, Kristi has a passion for people to know God’s love deeply. She is an MDiv student at Fuller Seminary and is enjoying every minute. Kristi loves playing her guitar and singing on her church’s worship team as well as serving with her musical “sister chicks” as the worship team for women’s retreats and other events.