Meditating on Peace this week

I was 47 years old when a friend told me how they constantly feel. I immediately related and thought "that's me since I was 5 years old." They described it as "Restless, Irritable, and Discontent." Their description struck me between they eyes and sticks with me to this day. I hadn't been able to put a label on the way I'd constantly felt for decades and the only reprieve was when I distracted myself with work, relationships, or extra-curricular activities. I distracted myself A LOT and to the point it became a massive blind spot.

With most of those distractions cleared out over the past few years, I had still been left with these unresolved feelings of always wanting to be in motion, anxious about the world around me, and wanting it to be changed in my direction.

Now though, with the ability to recognize those feelings, I can sit with them and sort it out with patience and God's view on the subjects. Working through the lessons in "Prayer" I set out to find God's hot take on these things that I wrestle with, meditate on the scripture, and progress towards peace.

The verses below are what I found and how I've been thinking about them during my prayers this week and have been asking for one simple thing over and over "Lord, guard my mind with your peace."

Philippians 4:6–7

“Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Meditating On: When my mind won’t settle, God offers guarding peace, not more pressure.

Philippians 4:11–13

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

Meditating On: Contentment is learned dependence, strength for the moment I’m in, not the one I wish I had.

Proverbs 14:29

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

Meditating On: Irritability isn’t “just my personality”. Scripture treats it as a spiritual wisdom issue.

Psalm 131:1–2

“I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother…”

Meditating On: Restlessness can be soothed, the soul can be trained toward quiet trust.

Hebrews 13:5

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Meditating On: Discontent is often attachment-driven, God answers it with His presence and faithfulness.

What I found out about God's view on restlessness, irritability, and discontentment in my spiritual life.

God doesn’t shame me for feeling unsettled, but He does invite me to bring it to Him.
Chronic irritability matters spiritually because it tends to leak out as harm.
Discontent is a warning light about what my heart is leaning on for “enough.”
God’s goal is formation, not suppression.

I also found that when I picked out one of the verses above, rewrote it from my POV, and returned to it when I feel the first spike of restlessness or irritation it has worked wonders in finding more peace and contentment.

Grateful for you guys and being able to share my journey with you all.

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