Dear friend,

Does your life feel so hectic that the very idea of peace feels out of reach?

You find yourself thinking, “There are so many distractions in my life, so many things demanding my time, when all I want is peace.”

It doesn't have to be this way. 

Nicholas Herman had a challenging life. After his conversion at eighteen, he dedicated his life to Christ and became a monk but found himself doing the most menial tasks within the monastic community.  

His job working in the kitchen was simple enough, but there were reports that he was constantly breaking things, and as a result, he found himself the target of ridicule and isolation. It's said he described himself as “a great awkward fellow who broke everything.” It would be easy to conclude that Nicholas was utterly miserable.  

But strangely enough, Nicholas—­who took the name Brother Lawrence when he became a monk—­lived a life of deep contentment and peace. As a matter of fact, he was so obviously peace-­filled that people began asking him the reason for his peace. 

Brother Lawrence told them the answer was simple but a matter of tremendous discipline. He said that he “practiced the presence of God” moment by moment, never allowing his heart to wander from the heart of his beloved Savior.  

Just as Brother Lawrence recommends:

Even if he was simply peeling potatoes, he did it for the glory of God. The Bible provides some pretty good evidence that Brother Lawrence was onto something, as the psalmist wrote in Psalm 29: “The Lord blesses them with peace.”  

The Psalms were written to a people who were walking through all phases of life, good and bad, but God graciously wove through it all a bright thread of the redemptive peace found in him alone. That is our birthright as followers of Christ.  

Praying with you, 

​

PS: No matter what struggles and discouragement you face today, you can start fresh with your prayer life as you begin pouring out your heart to your always-loving, always-listening God.