Peace in the Unexpected

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." – Psalm 29:11

When Arielle noticed her normally energetic toddler becoming unusually quiet and lethargic, her heart filled with concern. As days passed and her daughter didn’t improve, she decided to take her to the doctor.

The pediatrician, concerned by what she saw, referred Arielle and her little girl to the emergency room for further evaluation. In the sterile white room, a kind physician gently explained, “We don’t know anything for certain yet, but we’re hopeful it’s something minor. Still, we’ll need to run some tests tomorrow.”

Overwhelmed yet determined, Arielle reached out to friends and family. Messages of love and promises of prayers poured in, and some even planned to join her at the hospital the next day. But that night, everything changed. A specialist arrived and insisted on running urgent tests immediately.

As they prepared her daughter for surgery, Arielle suddenly found herself alone, her worst fears threatening to consume her. She could only whisper a prayer, unsure of what the next few hours might hold.

Then, in that stillness, something shifted. A peace unlike anything she’d ever known enveloped her. It wasn’t the kind of peace that made sense or erased her worries. It was deeper—a reminder that God was with her in the waiting room, in the uncertainty, and in the moments she feared most.

Hours later, the specialist returned with good news: her daughter didn’t have the life-threatening illness they feared. She had a severe infection that required treatment, but she would recover fully in time. Arielle’s heart overflowed with gratitude—not just for the good report, but for the unshakable presence of God who had carried her through the unknown.

Life often throws us into unexpected and overwhelming situations. In those moments, God’s peace doesn’t come from an absence of problems but from His presence in the middle of them. His promise is to walk with us, bringing strength and calm even when the world feels chaotic.

Prayer:
God, when life blindsides me with challenges, remind me that I am never alone. Help me feel Your peace and rest in the assurance of Your presence. Thank You for being my comfort in every season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"Peace is not the absence of the storm; it’s the presence of God in the midst of it."

Blessings, Pastor Stephan