With the calendar reading December, you might expect something relating to winter or the season of Christmas. Instead, let’s look at how to maneuver through difficult seasons in life that may include seasons of new beginnings, seasons of waiting, seasons of dark valleys, and seasons of pain.

The question is, will we be on an emotional rollercoaster as we ride through seasons like these or can we maintain a heart and mind filled with peace?

The apostle Paul wrote a lot about peace. It seems that peace is grounded on two foundational pillars, trust and thanksgiving. Romans 15:13 teaches that joy and peace come through trusting in God. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Trust for our present and future is strengthened when we remember the ways God has proven His trustworthiness in the past. We can see how God has demonstrated His trustworthiness throughout Scripture and to believers in the church today. God has met our needs before and we can trust Him with our present and future.

Thanksgiving is the second pillar that produces peace. Paul encouraged the fearful church with this. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Replace those pleas of panic with prayers of thankfulness for what God has already done and will do.

When fear, anxiety, and depression loom to steal our peace, knock them out with a one-two punch of trust and thankfulness. And, let God’s peace guard your heart and mind.