EVERWEST DEVOTIONAL #14 | Everlasting Peace
Scripture
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:6–9 (NIV)
Reflection
As Everwest began to take shape, God laid something heavy on my heart: this business was never meant to be about me, success, or doing things the “normal” way. He wanted Everwest to glorify Him above all else and to be rooted in His truth, not just in its products, but in its voice and purpose. As I wrestled with what that actually looked like, I felt Him leading me to share openly about how He was working in my life and through this business. But before taking that step, doubt crept in. I began to consider the potential consequences of putting faith at the forefront, and fear slowly started to replace obedience.
The enemy began whispering lies into my mind. What will people think? Will this drive customers away? Do I really want such a vulnerable part of my life online for everybody to see? And so on. I started replaying these thoughts in my head repeatedly, letting them grow louder than God’s call. I even considered abandoning the devotional entirely and launching Everwest the “normal” way, through social media ads and marketing campaigns. It seemed safer, easier, and more effective.
But when I brought these thoughts to a mentor of mine, he reminded me of Philippians 4:6–9. He said, “If you’re feeling anxious about something God clearly called you to, that’s not from God. That’s from the enemy. We don’t serve a God of anxiousness”
Then he walked me through the passage:
1. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Anxiety isn’t from God. When we feel that wave of fear or hesitation, especially when we know we’re walking in obedience, that’s the enemy trying to derail us. Instead of sitting in that fear, Paul says to pray. Take it to God. Thank Him for what He’s doing and trust Him to carry what we can’t.
2. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When we give our anxieties to God, He responds with peace, not always by changing our circumstances, but by steadying our hearts. Looking back on Everwest, peace has been the consistent marker of obedience, even when the path didn’t make sense. That same peace is available to you when you choose to trust Him, guarding your heart and mind as you walk forward in faith.
3. “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Fear grows when we dwell on outcomes, opinions, and worst-case scenarios. Faith grows when we focus on who God is and what He’s already done. Returning my thoughts to the truth of God’s faithfulness helped quiet my doubts and reminded me that this calling was good and worth obeying. The same is true for you, what you dwell on will shape how you move forward.
4. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.”
This verse is a call to action. God had already made His direction clear, my responsibility was simply to obey. Writing and sharing these devotionals became a step of faith. Yours may look different, but obedience always requires movement. At some point, faith stops being something we think about and becomes something we live.
If God is calling you to something and fear or anxiety is trying to hold you back, bring it to Him today. Pray, shift your focus to His truth, and take the next obedient step, trusting that the peace He promises will meet you there.
Application
This week, ask yourself:
1. Where might the enemy be planting seeds of doubt in your mind?
2. Are you letting fear dictate your obedience, or are you taking those thoughts captive and giving them to God?
3. How can you shift your focus from what could go wrong to what is true, noble, right, pure, and praiseworthy?
4. What is God calling you to “put into practice” right now?
When anxiety or doubt rises, don’t let it linger. Pray. Present your fears to God. Then step forward in obedience, knowing His peace will meet you there.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. When doubt creeps in and fear tries to take hold, remind us that those thoughts are not from You. Help us to fix our hearts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. Give us courage to put into practice what You’ve called us to do, to move forward when You say “go.” Guard our hearts and minds with Your peace and use our lives and vocations to bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
If there’s someone in your life who might be encouraged by this, or future devotionals, please share it with them or subscribe them here. You can also find past devotionals here.
- Jake Bunz, Founder
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