The Only Peace You’ll Find
We often think of mountaintops as places of perfect peace and rest. They symbolize the pinnacle of ministry success, the heights of spiritual clarity, or those rare moments when everything feels right.
But here’s the truth: the peace we seek at the summit is something we carry with us, not something we find once we get there.
Here is a fundamental about life in ministry: our circumstances do not create peace. The peace that truly sustains is found within us—a constant gift from Christ. Ministry is a journey filled with both valleys and mountaintops. Some seasons are marked by conflict, doubt, and exhaustion, while others feel triumphant and joyful. Yet regardless of the setting, Jesus makes it clear—his peace is not tied to what’s happening around us; it’s something he places within us.
It’s easy to believe that once you hit a certain ministry milestone—a successful event, a growing ministry initiative, or personal recognition for all your hard work—you’ll finally feel the peace you’ve been chasing. But in reality, peace isn’t something you’ll stumble upon when you “arrive” at your mountaintop. Those external victories are fleeting, and without the internal peace of Christ, the summit will still feel empty.
Jesus offers us a different kind of peace—one that we can carry with us in every season of ministry. This peace is rooted not in outcomes, but in the unchanging nature of God. When we find our identity in Christ and anchor ourselves in his love, we begin to bring peace with us into the chaos, rather than waiting for the chaos to subside.
Mountaintops don’t create peace; we do—by abiding in him.
TO CONSIDER:
Are you waiting for a future “mountaintop” moment to experience peace in your ministry?
How can you cultivate Christ’s peace right where you are today, even if you’re in a valley?
What practices (prayer, solitude, gratitude) can help you carry that peace with you in every season?
“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.”
[ John 14:27 ]
NPM Staff Culture