How Can I Find Peace in My Broken Life?
As we grieve over life’s losses and disappointments, God avails His peace to us in familiar places.
I sat in the doctor’s office with my husband, as the doctor said, “Pain management may be the best we can do.”
I gripped the handle of my cane. With limited mobility caused by chronic pain and fatigue due to a back injury, I would be considered disabled.
I couldn’t look at my husband, who I was sure was already exhausted from serving as my caregiver.
Handing me a tissue, my doctor said, “Don’t lose hope.” I wiped my tears. “My hope is in Jesus,” I said. “I’m just . . . grieving.”
My hope is in Jesus, but how could I persevere when my husband and I were already running on empty?
He Understands Our Tears
Anxious thoughts pounded my temples as my husband drove me home in silence and then returned to work.
Disappointment. Frustration. Anger. Grief. Confusion. Desperation. Self-pity. Fear. Mixed emotions bombarded me as I entered home, slumped onto the sofa, and sobbed.
My puppy wiggled onto my lap, licking my tears until I laughed. “I’m okay,” I said. Distracting her with a toy, I stared at the cross hanging by our door. How could I have forgotten that Christ is my strength when I am weak?
“Help me, Jesus,” I prayed.
Peace enveloped me as I focused on the crosses decorating our living room. Each cross affirmed that I could overcome anything on this side of eternity with my hope secured in the constant presence of my risen King—Jesus Christ. “I’m going to be okay,” I said as I stroked my puppy’s soft fur and allowed the tears to begin flowing again.
I used to think crying was evidence of a weak faith, until I discovered that even “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). His tears confirm He can empathise with those who grieve. But what happened before and after Jesus wept brought me peace that didn’t depend on my ever-changing feelings or uncontrollable circumstances.
Jesus said Lazarus’ sickness would “not end in death” but would bring God glory: “it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” with “It is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4).
Jesus had given His disciples countless opportunities to rest in the peace of His presence and rely on the hope of His promises. Miracle after miracle, He had proven His faithfulness and power. Still, the disciples succumbed to fear and remained spiritually nearsighted—focused on what they could see rather than what Jesus had said (vv. 8–16).
Jesus arrived at Bethany after Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and a crowd had assembled to mourn with the family (vv. 17–19). He reiterated His promise to Martha (vv. 23, 25–26). She acknowledged who Jesus was but her response wasn’t much different from her sister’s–that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died (v. 21, 32) Instead of condemning or chastising them for their slowness to understand, Jesus showed compassion and wept when He saw Mary and those in the crowd grieving (vv. 33–37).
They had doubted until Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb (vv. 38–45). Lazarus’ resurrection proved Jesus’ power and validated the promise He’d given the disciples as He led them to the foot of His cross.
Scripture says the siblings remained close to Jesus. After stepping into his new life, Lazarus rested in Jesus’ presence. Martha served Jesus. Mary worshipped Jesus with an extravagant display of adoration. The chief priests even plotted to kill Lazarus because his life was causing many of the Jews to turn to Jesus (John 12:1–2, 9–11).
When we trust in Jesus’ loving and constant presence, He will give us His peace in times of turmoil (John 14:27).
I used to think crying was evidence of a weak faith, until I discovered that even “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). His tears confirm He can empathise with those who grieve. But what happened before and after Jesus wept brought me peace that didn’t depend on my ever-changing feelings or uncontrollable circumstances.
Jesus said Lazarus’ sickness would “not end in death” but would bring God glory: “it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” with “It is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4).
Jesus had given His disciples countless opportunities to rest in the peace of His presence and rely on the hope of His promises. Miracle after miracle, He had proven His faithfulness and power. Still, the disciples succumbed to fear and remained spiritually nearsighted—focused on what they could see rather than what Jesus had said (vv. 8–16).
Jesus arrived at Bethany after Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and a crowd had assembled to mourn with the family (vv. 17–19). He reiterated His promise to Martha (vv. 23, 25–26). She acknowledged who Jesus was but her response wasn’t much different from her sister’s–that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died (v. 21, 32) Instead of condemning or chastising them for their slowness to understand, Jesus showed compassion and wept when He saw Mary and those in the crowd grieving (vv. 33–37).
They had doubted until Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb (vv. 38–45). Lazarus’ resurrection proved Jesus’ power and validated the promise He’d given the disciples as He led them to the foot of His cross.
Scripture says the siblings remained close to Jesus. After stepping into his new life, Lazarus rested in Jesus’ presence. Martha served Jesus. Mary worshipped Jesus with an extravagant display of adoration. The chief priests even plotted to kill Lazarus because his life was causing many of the Jews to turn to Jesus (John 12:1–2, 9–11).
When we trust in Jesus’ loving and constant presence, He will give us His peace in times of turmoil (John 14:27).
Receiving Peace in Jesus Christ
When we’re dead in our sin and brokenness, Jesus calls us out of the tomb. He invites us to step into a new life through the forgiveness of our sins when we repent, turn away from sin, and place our hope in Him.
By giving His life for ours—taking on our sin, death, and brokenness and transforming it into resurrection life—Jesus extends His peace for us to enjoy now and when we enter eternity.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
Amid our trouble, Jesus gives us a two-fold promise: His peace, and that He has overcome the world.
We can trust Jesus with our vulnerability when we’re struggling. We can be confident in His unchanging goodness, His mercy, and His plan and peace for our journey because our hope remains secure in His unbreakable promises.
Our risen King provides an open invitation with plenty of opportunities for us to believe every promise He has given through His Word. He calls us to abandon our grave clothes and step into a new life. When we surrender to Jesus, He will be our peace and empower us to serve Him, worship Him, and live in such a way that causes others to turn to Him.
Will you accept Christ’s peace today?
Extracted and adapted with permission from “Christ’s Peace Offering” by Xochitl Dixon © Our Daily Bread Ministries.
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