John 14:27
Are You Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”?
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Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you, “Chin up! Everything will get better”?
I get it. People may be well-intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs for the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace—”Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”
Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 29 years old and again in 2024 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. I also experienced it when my parents were dying.
In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace.
Changing the position of our chin doesn’t change anything… unless we are raising our faces toward heaven and opening our hearts to the Prince of Peace. He changes everything.
Thank You, PRINCE OF PEACE, that You supersede circumstances. Fill me with Your peace that is not of this world.
Would you like more grace and peace in your life? Peace with God? Peace with others? Watch Debbie’s teaching on 1 Peter 1 HERE or listen to it HERE.
True and Lasting Peace
Many of us today seek peace. We may watch a movie or scroll through social media to distract us from anxious thoughts. We may pursue financial security, hoping money will bring peace.
Although pursuing things in search of peace may not be bad in and of itself, it’s important to recognize the source of true peace, which Judges 6:24 explains is the Lord. “Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it ‘The Lord is Peace.’”
The Lord is Peace. Jesus affirmed this before His ascension into heaven. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). The peace Jesus promised wasn’t just for the disciples, but for us. Jesus understood the troubles and trials of life. But in the midst of them, He gives peace that supersedes what the world offers. I came to know this peace when I was 29 years old and received a letter from MD Anderson telling me that I had Stage 1 ovarian cancer. I experienced it again in 2024 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and went through chemo, a lobectomy, and radiation treatments into 2025. Even now, as I take a daily pill that targets the gene that caused my cancer, I continue to rest in Christ’s peace. As I cried out to God, He assured me that He would be with me, my husband, children, and grandchildren. If I died, He would take care of them and I would be in heaven with Him. Jesus’ peace flooded my soul.
Do you know His peace? Do you practice and experience Philippians 4:6-7 “…be anxious for nothing 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you don’t know the peace Jesus offers, cry out to Him today. Proclaim as Gideon did, “The Lord is Peace.”
Lord, thank You for the PEACE You give that is not of this world.
If you or a loved one are walking through cancer or another difficult season, we invite you to visit Hope for the Cancer+ Journey. There you’ll find encouraging resources, uplifting music, and reminders of God’s presence to help you experience His peace day by day.
Are You Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”
Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you “Chin up! Everything will get better.” I get it. People may be well-intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs for the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace. Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I experienced it when my parents were dying. In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace. Changing the position of our chin doesn’t change anything. Opening our hearts to the Prince of Peace changes everything.
Thank You, Prince of PEACE, that You supersede circumstances. Fill us with Your peace that is not of this world.
“Now may the LORD of PEACE Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16
When You’re Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”
Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you “chin up,” that everything will get better? I get it. People may be well intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace. Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I experienced it when my parents were dying. In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace. Moving the direction of our chin doesn’t change anything. Opening our heart and asking the Prince of Peace to fill it changes everything.
Thank You, Prince of PEACE, that You supercede circumstances. Fill us with Your peace.
“Now may the LORD of PEACE Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”
When You’re Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”
Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you “chin up,” that everything will get better? I get it. People may be well intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace. Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I experienced it when my parents were dying. In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace. Moving the direction of our chin doesn’t change anything. Opening our heart and asking the Prince of Peace to fill it changes everything.
Thank You, Prince of PEACE, that You supercede circumstances. Fill us with Your peace.
“Now may the LORD of PEACE Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”
Praise to the PEACE GIVER
“Peace I leave with you; My PEACE I GIVE TO YOU; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
When I received a letter from M.D. Anderson in 1982 saying I had stage 1A ovarian carcinoma, I was shocked. Then I was sad, grievously sad. I looked at our 2 year old son, Taylor, and couldn’t stand the thought of not being around to raise him. I looked at my dear husband and was broken hearted about not doing “life” with him. I cried. I grieved. Then, God took me to the end of what might happen. I might die. But then, He consoled me. He GAVE ME HIS PEACE. He assured me He would be with Taylor and Keith and that I would be with Him. I personally know Jesus as the PEACE GIVER.
Lord Jesus, PEACE GIVER, You make me smile.
© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.
I HAVE CHRIST’S PEACE
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;“
Are you peaceful? Certainly we would agree that we need Christ’s peace, not only as a state of our salvation, but also flowing through our hearts. But, how is it possible on a day in, day out basis to have Christ’s peace? The answer is the same way we experience God’s other virtues. When Christ established our eternal peace with God, a conduit of grace opened to us. The Holy Spirit freely flows in our spirits. He urges us, “Take off your rags of bitterness, worry, unkindness. Put on my coat of divine peace.” Peace means the “tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot.” Does that describe us?
Heavenly Father, forgive me for so often worrying and being anxious when, in fact, I am assured of my salvation in Christ. I have nothing to fear for You are with me. I have every reason to be content. Thank You for the peace Christ gives me.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
PEACE GIVER
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
John 14:27
When I received a letter from M.D. Anderson in 1982 saying I had stage 1A ovarian carcinoma, I was shocked. Then I was sad, grievously sad. I looked at our 2 year old son, Taylor, and couldn’t stand the thought of not being around to raise him. I looked at my dear husband and was broken hearted about not doing “life” with him. I cried. I grieved. Then, God took me to the end of what might happen. I might die. But then, He consoled me. He GAVE ME HIS PEACE. He assured me He would be with Taylor and Keith and that I would be with Him. I personally know Jesus as the PEACE GIVER.
Lord Jesus, PEACE GIVER, You make me smile.
© Debbie Taylor Williams. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to forward or share this material provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee for it. Any exception to the above must be approved by Debbie Taylor Williams. Please include on any web posting or printed distribution: © Debbie Taylor Williams, www.debbietaylorwilliams.com. Thank you.