By His Grace: A Journal of Returning
Finding Peace Where I Left It — With God

There’s something remarkable about the way faith reshapes how we see the world. It doesn't just change what we believe—it changes how we interpret everything around us. When I began to walk again with God, I realized that peace wasn’t just a feeling; it was a fruit of seeing rightly. And seeing rightly—perceiving life through the lens of God’s truth—starts with faith.

Faith is More Than Belief

For much of my childhood, I thought faith meant agreeing with God in my mind. But faith isn’t just mental assent—it’s trust in motion, that's my understanding for me when I thought it’s about my faith. It's letting go of the need to control and choosing to believe that God is good, even when life isn’t. And you know why? It is because the perfect God has faith in us- in me.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

This verse isn't just poetic. It’s practical. Faith allows us to walk through uncertainty with confidence—not because we understand everything, but because we trust the One who does.

Faith is how we begin to perceive life differently. It's the key that shifts our eyes from what’s visible to what’s eternal.

Perception is a Spiritual Discipline

Our perception isn’t passive—it’s shaped by what we feed our hearts and minds. I had to learn to re-train my spiritual senses, to see things not just from my emotions or logic, but from God's perspective.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) reminds us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

There was a time when I let fear and failure define what I saw. But God gently began to renew my sight. He showed me how to recognize His hand in the silence, His direction in the detours, and His love even in my lowest moments.

Perception rooted in faith opens the door to peace—because we’re no longer driven by what’s happening around us, but grounded in what God has promised.

Spiritual Peace Is Not Fragile

The peace of God is unlike anything this world can offer. It’s not the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of trust. It’s choosing to rest, even when things don’t make sense.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) encourages us:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

I didn’t find peace when everything in my life was fixed. I found it when I surrendered. It came quietly, but deeply—like still water returning after a storm.

Faith is deeply influenced by how we perceive the world—and even more importantly, how we perceive God. Our perception acts like a lens. If the lens is scratched, dirty, or misaligned, everything we look at is affected. In the same way, our view of life, ourselves, and others becomes distorted when we’re not seeing through the clarity of God’s truth.

Two people can be in the exact same tough situation—like a warzone, a prison cell, or a struggling neighborhood—and yet their experiences can be completely different. One might feel overwhelmed and hopeless, while the other somehow walks in peace and joy. That difference? It’s not luck. It’s perspective—and more importantly, it’s the presence of God. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV). That peace isn’t about ignoring reality—it’s about anchoring your heart to something deeper than the chaos around you.

Take Paul, for example. While imprisoned, beaten, and completely restricted, he wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11, ESV). That’s not just optimism—it’s revelation. Paul’s joy came from Christ, not circumstance. As he boldly said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4, ESV). And actually, modern science is catching on.

Psychology has found that cognitive reframing—the practice of choosing how to interpret an event—can change our emotional experience of it. Your mindset literally rewires your brain. This aligns perfectly with Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Now, to be clear, this doesn't mean suffering isn’t real. It is. But there’s a difference between suffering we endure and suffering we invite by resisting God’s truth.

A heart filled with bitterness or pride will feel the weight of life no matter where it is. But a heart surrendered to Jesus—even in the storm—can find rest.

Jesus was upfront: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV). That’s not a promise of ease—it’s a promise of victory.

Fear often takes hold when our imagination runs wild in the wrong direction. Think of it like this: fear is a form of creative energy used backwards.

Neuroscience has shown that fear triggers the same areas of the brain as actual danger—even if the threat is imaginary. But Scripture flips that around: “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). And let’s talk about legacy. Exodus 20:5 says our sins can impact generations. But again, science confirms this: epigenetics shows that trauma and habits can be biologically passed down. Thankfully, Jesus came to break those cycles and give us a new inheritance. He’s preparing a new heaven and new earth “where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, ESV).

In our lives, we often face situations that feel overwhelming or hopeless. But when we allow God to reshape our perception, we begin to walk not by sight, but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). We begin to see not just what is, but what God says it can be.

Perception and the Heart

Our spiritual perception is also tied to the condition of our heart. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8, ESV). Seeing God—not just in the afterlife, but in our everyday lives—requires a heart postured toward Him. That means laying down bitterness, pride, and fear, and picking up grace, humility, and love.

In the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, there’s a unique emphasis on the “eyes of the heart.” One such text, 1 Meqabyan 3:10 (Ethiopian Bible), reminds us: “The heart that is full of wisdom will not be troubled in the time of darkness, for it sees with the light of understanding.” This verse beautifully echoes the call to walk with spiritual awareness, not just emotional reaction.

In His teachings, Jesus makes it abundantly clear how vital it is to guard our hearts. "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23, ESV). Walking in righteousness is not just a moral pursuit—it is divine alignment with God's will. Accepting Him wholeheartedly leads to life, while rejecting Him through idolatry or covetousness leads to separation from His presence. Scripture warns us: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you… covetousness, which is idolatry.

On account of these the wrath of God is coming" (Colossians 3:5-6, ESV). God is the Creator of all that is good. Evil is the absence and rejection of that good. When we are enlightened by His grace, we come to know His love and discover our purpose. To act deliberately against that—to promote evil knowingly—places one outside the covering of God’s mercy. His holiness is pure light. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5, ESV). No evil can stand before Him. But what about those who’ve never heard the name of Jesus? Romans 1:19–20 (ESV) teaches us: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes… have been clearly perceived… so they are without excuse.” God reveals Himself to all, and no one will face judgment unjustly. Each person is given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3), and God does not place an obstacle too great to overcome: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful… he will also provide the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV). Jesus already died on the Cross, once for all (Hebrews 10:10), and His Spirit is near to those who seek Him.

If you’re asking whether you are saved, take heart—“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16, ESV). You are not alone. Angels are assigned to help (Hebrews 1:14), and the Holy Spirit carries your burdens (John 14:26). “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV). The devil does not know your thoughts—only God does (Psalm 139:2)—and the fallen ones cannot touch what is sealed by Christ.

Spiritual Peace: Resting in the Truth of God

If faith is the foundation, and perception is the lens, then peace is the posture. Spiritual peace isn’t the absence of conflict, noise, or pain. It’s the calm within—even when the storm is still raging on the outside.

In John 14:27 (NIV), Jesus gives us this promise:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

This peace isn’t temporary or shallow. It’s not based on circumstances, but rooted in the person of Christ. The world’s peace changes with the wind, but God’s peace anchors us.

Paul echoes this in Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV):

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That phrase—“surpasses all understanding”—is what makes God’s peace so radical. It doesn’t always make sense, but it makes space. It guards. It holds us when nothing else can.

Peace is a Result of Trust

Spiritual peace flows naturally when we trust God deeply. Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) reminds us:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Notice how peace is tied to focus. When our minds are “stayed on” God—fixed, centered, rooted—we’re not easily shaken by what’s happening around us. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel fear, sorrow, or doubt. It means that even when we do, our hearts remember who’s holding us.

The Ethiopian text 2 Meqabyan 5:13 speaks similarly:

“Those who wait upon the Lord will be clothed in quietness, and their footsteps will not stumble in the day of testing.”

That quietness—that peace—is a sign not of weakness, but of holy confidence.

Peace Requires Practice

Spiritual peace isn’t a one-time gift; it’s something we learn to walk in. We practice peace by choosing stillness, trusting God in the tension, and returning to His promises again and again.

Jesus Himself modeled this. In the midst of chaos, He would often withdraw to pray (Luke 5:16, NIV). In the middle of a storm, He slept (Mark 4:38–39, KJV). And when He was betrayed and arrested, He didn’t panic—He submitted to the Father’s will with unwavering peace (Matthew 26:39, ESV).

We’re called to that same kind of peace—not because we’re strong, but because He is. And He is with us.

Closing This Section: A Heart at Rest

So as we journey through faith and perception, we arrive at peace—not as an escape, but as a resting place in God. Peace is not passive; it’s deeply spiritual. It is the fruit of a heart that knows and trusts its Maker.

Let the words of Jesus sink into your spirit:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV)

That invitation is still open. Today. Right now.

Reflective Summary: Walking in What You Believe

Faith is more than belief—it’s trust in motion. It’s waking up each day and choosing to believe what God has said, even when what you see doesn’t match what you’ve prayed for.

Perception is the filter through which we experience both God and the world around us. When it is shaped by fear, we shrink. When it is shaped by faith, we grow—even in dark places.

And spiritual peace? That is the fruit of both. It’s not found in the absence of pressure or struggle, but in the presence of God. When we believe rightly, and see rightly, we live rightly.

The journey of faith will test everything about you. It will push you beyond the surface and call you into a deeper surrender. But it’s in that surrender that we find strength—not our own, but His.

As it’s written in Romans 15:13 (ESV):

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

You are not alone in your journey. God walks with you. His Spirit strengthens you. And His peace guards you.

This is the peace Jesus gives. Not as the world gives. Not with conditions. But freely, lovingly, and always on time.

As I write, I am also making incremental changes in my daily routine and these marginal improvements will be part of my transition. I’m encouraging myself to engage in activities that help me reflect and re-learn from my own story, which is why I included these prompts after reading.

Devotional Journal Prompts

Use these prompts to sit with God, reflect honestly, and grow more deeply in your walk of faith:

1. What does faith look like for me right now?

Is it easy or difficult? What is something I’m still struggling to fully trust God with?

✍️ Write a letter to God expressing where your faith is today. Be honest. He can handle it.

2. How has my perception been shaped—by fear, by truth, or by past experiences?

Am I seeing myself and others through God’s eyes?

📖 Ask the Lord to renew your mind (Romans 12:2). List three Scriptures that reshape your current mindset.

3. When have I experienced real peace that didn’t make sense?

What did it teach me about God?

🙏 Reflect on that moment. Thank God for being near even when everything else felt far.

4. What does it mean for me to rest in God right now?

What do I need to let go of to truly enter His peace?

🕊️ Pray over Matthew 11:28–30. Imagine placing your burdens at Jesus’ feet. What do you want to leave there?

5. How can I walk in faith this week?

What is one step I can take that aligns with belief—even if I still feel unsure?

🦶 Make a faith move. Small or big, do something that says, “I trust You, Lord.”

Part 2: Faith, Perception, and Spiritual Peace