Unshakeable Peace in Shifting Seasons

The leaves outside my window are putting on their fall show—amber and crimson against shorter days and cooler mornings. There’s something breathtaking about autumn’s arrival, the way nature surrenders to change with such grace. But the seasons shifting in my own life haven’t felt nearly as beautiful.

Maybe you know what I mean. The job that felt secure until it wasn’t. The children who filled your home with chaos are now building their own lives elsewhere. The church family that was supposed to be safe until someone’s words cut deeper than expected.

Have you ever wondered how to find peace in these difficult seasons—when life changes faster than you can keep up? Here’s what I’ve learned about unshakeable peace in shifting seasons: in every moment of uncertainty, voices compete for our attention.

Fear’s voice rushes in first, loud and insistent: “This change means loss. This emptiness proves you’ve failed. Or worse—God’s abandoned you.” Fear always interprets transition as a threat. Then there’s the world’s voice, selling us the lie that peace only comes when circumstances are “right.” It whispers that peace is a reward for getting your life together, and if you can manage enough outcomes, you’ll finally feel calm.

But God’s voice speaks something different—and here’s the hard part: God’s voice is seasonal. Sometimes, He speaks clearly, revealing the next steps. Sometimes He’s quiet, holding back details we desperately want. Revelation comes in stages, clarity on His timeline, not ours.

After my world shifted overnight in 2011, I discovered that while God’s voice might be seasonal, His peace doesn’t have to be. God’s peace isn’t dependent on knowing the details. It’s unshakeable because it comes from His character, not from our information.

The Weight of Shifting Seasons

You thought this season would feel lighter, but it feels heavier. You’re holding everything together with prayer and duct tape, smiling through another morning while your soul screams for relief. The silence feels louder than ever—no more rushing to games, no more daily chaos, just you and the echo of what used to be.

In that silence, fear’s voice grows bold: “God’s silence means there is no plan. This waiting proves you’re forgotten.” Fear rushes to fill the quiet because silence is where God often does His deepest work—and fear knows it can’t compete with His presence.

The world’s voice tells you to stay busy, fill the silence with activity, and prove your worth through productivity. “Just move on,” it says. “Focus on what you can control.”

But God’s voice, when you quiet yourself enough to hear it, speaks differently: “I am with you in the silence. My presence doesn’t require noise. Rest here.”

You’ve tried all the right things. You’ve read Scripture until your eyes burned. You’ve journaled until your hand cramped. You’ve prayed until the words felt hollow. And still, the questions remain unanswered. Still, the next steps feel unclear. Still, God’s voice seems seasonally silent.

But unshakeable peace isn’t built on having all the information. Finding peace in difficult seasons is built on trusting the God who holds all the information. Peace isn’t the absence of unanswered questions; it’s resting in the character of the One who already knows the answers, even when His voice about specifics is quiet.

The Peace That Can’t Be Earned

We’ve been taught that peace comes from knowing the plan. This is the world’s voice at work, convincing us that peace is a product of our management skills rather than God’s gift. For many of us, this lie cuts even deeper. We’ve inherited generational trauma that whispers, “Safety requires certainty—that peace only comes if we can see every variable in advance.”

But Jesus said something revolutionary in John 14:27: “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.”

Notice Jesus contrasts God’s peace with the world’s. The world offers temporary calm, dependent on circumstances. God offers unshakeable peace rooted in His unchanging character. He’s offering peace that exists independent of circumstances—peace the world can’t give and fear can’t steal.

Three Peace-Anchoring Rhythms

So how do we access this otherworldly peace when God’s voice is seasonally quiet about our next steps? How do we find unshakeable rest when the details we’re desperate for haven’t been revealed yet? Here are three rhythms that anchor me when seasons shift:

Sacred Breathing: Hovering Before Reacting

Isaiah 26:3 promises perfect peace for steadfast minds. But how do we keep our minds steadfast when fear’s voice is screaming and circumstances are shifting?

This isn’t about relaxation techniques or stress management. Sacred breathing is a partnership with God’s Spirit—the same Spirit who hovered over chaos before speaking creation. When fear’s voice demands immediate reaction and the world’s voice pushes for frantic productivity, sacred breathing creates space to hear God’s voice say, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Before reacting to fear’s voice, learn to hover with Him. Try 4-7-8 breathing with Scripture: inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight. As your nervous system calms, God’s voice emerges above the others.

Word as Anchor: Truth Over Fear’s Lies

Philippians 4:6-7 shows that God’s peace guards against anxiety, but it requires our participation. When fear fills silence with lies, counter with small Scripture portions—not positive affirmations, but prophetic declarations. Fear says, “God’s forgotten you.” The world says, “You’re on your own.” But God says, “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). One verse, spoken against the lies, shifts the spiritual atmosphere.

Micro-Obedience: Next Steps, Not Perfect Plans

God’s Creative Process™ follows Foundation → Form → Fill. You don’t need the whole blueprint—just your next right step. Fear’s voice says, “Wait until you have all the answers.” The world’s voice says, “Rush ahead with whatever works.” God’s voice says, “Take the next faithful step I’m showing you right now.” You see, unshakeable peace comes through small acts of faithfulness.

The Rebuilding Reality

Peace isn’t the absence of problems—it’s the presence of God in the middle of them. You can grieve and have peace. You can struggle with unanswered questions and still rest in God’s character. Unshakeable doesn’t mean unfeeling; it means your foundation holds even when your emotions don’t. The voices will compete, but you’re learning to recognize which one leads to life.

Fear says change means you’ve lost. The world says peace comes when you’ve fixed everything. But God says peace is already yours—because He Himself is your peace.

So, if your season is shifting, remember this: peace doesn’t have to shift with it. You can experience calm even in chaos, rest even in waiting, and confidence even in uncertainty.

This Week’s Peace Practice

Start with one breath prayer:

Inhale: “Lord Jesus, You are near.

Exhale: “You’re steady when I’m not.“

Do it five times. Notice how your heart rate slows and your spirit softens. That’s unshakeable peace—God’s gift, right here, right now.

Choose one rhythm from above—sacred breathing, Word as anchor, or micro-obedience. Practice it once today.