Color Your Way to a Deeper, More Fulfilling Sense of Inner Peace 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
It’s one thing to read this statement Jesus delivered to his disciples just hours before his arrest and crucifixion, but it’s quite another to truly believe it. After all, we all probably understand on a basic, objective level that God has given us access to an unending supply of peace. Yet somehow that knowledge tends to get lost on its way to our hearts—mainly because experiencing true peace in our minds, souls, and daily practice is often easier said than done.
We may not be living under the totalitarian Roman Empire, as the disciples were when they were given this command, but we certainly are no strangers to hardship, struggles, and suffering. Due to the constant twenty-four-hour news cycle, the amount of suffering and injustice occurring at a global level, and the incessant and inescapable barrage of information and insults and inaccuracies on social media, grasping and maintaining a true sense of peace and tranquility can often feel elusive and even completely out of reach. But God’s promises are not given only to be taken away. And thus his promise of peace is just as true now as it was 2,000 years ago. Once one realizes the real horrors and injustices that existed in that time, this command of “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” sounds even more shocking. But that is what God calls us to do:
be at peace in the midst of the storm. In the midst of pain. In the midst of uncertainty.
In a way, the call to not let our hearts be troubled couldn’t come in any other context. If things are going well—work running smoothly, finances balanced, children perfectly content, and relationships in alignment—the “be at peace” command would feel somewhat out of place. In other words, we don’t need to be reminded to seek peace if all seems right with the world. We need this reminder when all seems lost, when all seems wrong, and when our grip on everything feels as intangible as sand slipping through our fingers.That is the exact moment when we need to tell our souls:
peace, be still. Wherever you might currently describe yourself on the scale of “having it all together” or “barely keeping it together,” consider this coloring book your official gateway to reclaiming some of that inner peace you may have lost. As you meditate on the calming illustrations and life-giving words with a pen or pencil in hand, may you find yourself drawn back into the well of God’s overflowing peace. And if internal worries or external distractions threaten to steal your newfound peace, feel free to engage with the “Peace, Be Still” Spotify playlist (link at the back of the book) while you color, meditate, and restore your soul.
If God could calm a raging sea with the words “Peace, be still,” he can calm your raging thoughts and overwhelmed soul. So grab some pencils, queue up a peaceful playlist, give yourself space to breathe, and allow yourself to reclaim the peace that passes all understanding—the peace that God has promised you. Lastly, if you’d like to share some of your artwork and engage with other people using this book, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #PeaceBeStillColoringBook.
Copyright © 2021 by Ink & Willow. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
