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Book Feature

Create a Peaceful Atmosphere

By Deborah Smith Pegues

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27).

Have you ever spent time with someone who exudes peace no matter what is going on in her environment or even in her life. I had a former coworker, whom I will call Cynthia, who suffered domestic abuse at the hands of her alcoholic husband for more than 25 years before she left him. During this time, she also lost two of her five children to violent deaths, survived breast cancer and experienced a host of other larger-than-life problems. When I first met her I was struck by the fact that nothing seemed to ruffle her feathers. Cynthia never complained about small issues like the broken copier, the freezing temperature in the office or even her workload as the office manager. She was the epitome of peace, and it was apparent that she wasn’t going to let anyone take it away from her. She set the tone for her environment no matter where she was.

What about you? How much peace do you exhibit? Let’s start with your job. How well do you respond to the challenges of the day in your workplace? Are you always on edge or complaining? What is the appearance of your work area? Is it neat and orderly, or are there mountains of papers all around? I’m no neat freak, but I’m a lot more peaceful and proficient when I’m not surrounded by things out of place. Disorder can be mentally distracting and stress inducing. If your office is messy or you work in a space with messy people, you may find it necessary to temporarily work in a conference room or another area if you have a pressing project. If this isn’t possible, try bundling papers with a giant rubber band and putting them out of sight as you work on one project at a time. Keep glass-top tables free of smudges. Live plants should be kept trimmed and free of dead or yellowing leaves. The sight of disorder can subconsciously erode your peace.

What about your overall demeanor? Are you always fuming over the mistakes of “dummies” and “idiots”? Have you learned to stop sweating the small stuff? Have you stopped to consider what a poor witness it is to not reflect peace, a fruit of the Spirit, in your life? “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23).

What about your daily commute? Do you get into your car with the intent of maintaining a peaceful atmosphere no matter what situations you encounter on the road? When was the last time you prayed for a bad or inconsiderate driver? Have you considered you may be the only intercessor that person will have today? Do you create a peaceful atmosphere in the car by keeping the seats and floor free of clutter? Do you play relaxing music? The right music can be a great source of peace in any environment.

No matter what goes on outside your home, make your home your refuge and guard its peace with all your might. Saturate the atmosphere with prayer each day, communicate effectively, avoid being selfish or insisting on your own way. “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15).

Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life. Stay the course. Be the light that shines so brightly that others will look at you and desire a relationship with God.

Lord, because You have given me Your peace, help me to know it is with me wherever I go, regardless of my environment or circumstances.

Excerpted from 30 Days to Taming Your Stress. ©2007 by Deborah Smith Pegues. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used with permission.