🌟 The Hardest Person to Make Peace With (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
- Tracy Astle
- Dec 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Why Inner Peace Is the Beginning of Every Other Kind of Peace
December shows up with glowing lights, soft music, and the gentle message that this is “the season of peace.”
Honestly… who wouldn’t want that?
Yet in real life—between the holiday bustle, emotional triggers, high expectations, and plain old life stress—peace can feel distant. Sometimes not just distant… but impossible.
But here's the truth that changes everything:
Peace doesn’t start out there. Peace starts right here—within your own heart and mind.
1. The Peace Jesus Gives Isn’t Circumstantial
Jesus offered something the world simply can’t duplicate:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”— John 14:27
This is not the peace of “everything’s going perfectly.
”It’s the peace of:
God is here, and I am held.
It’s the same peace that passes all understanding Paul describes—a peace that doesn’t wait for everything to calm down.
It meets you in the chaos and steadies you there.
2. True Peace Starts with Being True to Ourselves
Shakespeare reminds us:
“To thine own self be true… thou canst not then be false to any man.”
We often think that being a “peacemaker” means creating harmony for everyone else first.
But you cannot create outer peace if you don’t have it inside you to give.
Peace grows when we:
Honor our limits
Tell the truth about what we need
Let ourselves be human
Invite God into every imperfect place
3. Peace Requires Grace—and Forgiveness (Especially Toward Ourselves)
We’re quick to give others grace during this season… but often withhold it from ourselves.
Yet Gandhi was right:
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
That includes forgiving yourself—for past choices, missteps, moments you’re not proud of, or simply not being who you expected yourself to be.
Grace makes room for peace.
Forgiveness keeps that peace flowing.
4. Peace Within You Becomes Peace Around You
A heart at peace cannot help but radiate peace.
When you’re settled inside, it naturally spills outward into:
Your family
Your friendships
Your workplace
Your community
This is where real change begins.
Not with outrage or perfect policies…
but with one person who chooses calm, grace, and groundedness in God.
That person can be you.
✨ If Burnout Is Stealing Your Peace… This Week’s Podcast Is for You
On the newest episode of The Nourished Life for Christian Women, I’m joined by Dr. Jackee Brown for a powerful conversation on how to prevent and alleviate burnout—especially during busy seasons.
If your peace feels thin right now…If you’re stretched, tired, or quietly running on empty…This episode is just for you.
If this post resonated with you, please consider sharing it to spread the word. It might be of use to someone you know.
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, click HERE to book a chat with me.
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