Guest Post: Finding Peace in Each Day by Barbara M. Britton

Finding Peace in Each Day

By Barbara M. Britton

In a novel, conflict and tension keep readers turning pages to see what happens to their beloved characters. I am always throwing troubles in the paths of my main characters. It’s fun to send imaginary people on these adventures. But what happens when the troubles come fast and numerous in your real life? Life isn’t very fun.

I send my latest heroine off to Tennessee so she can escape a scandal in Wisconsin. When the scandal follows her, she feels like God isn’t listening to her prayers for help. Life should be easy for Christians, right?

Emma learns that life doesn’t always go as we plan, but God is with us during the hardship, and life will go according to His plan.

Matthew 6:34 address the worry and concern we have in our daily lives:

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

You might have heard the saying that if you see therefore in the Bible, you have to ask yourself what it’s there for. In Matthew 6:25-34, God tells us how He cares for birds and lilies, and we are far more important to Him than any of these things. God offers us comfort, but we have to seek Him to get His ginormous hug.

Emma has a faith relationship like some of you reading this post. She needs a reminder from Scripture, and her best friend Sam, that God hasn’t abandoned her in troubling times. God is her rock, her fortress, and her deliverer (Psalm 18:2). This Psalm comes up often in my story because it’s Emma’s favorite verse.

If you are feeling unsettled:

-Grab hold of God’s Word and memorize comforting verses.

-Pray for peace and ask others to pray for you.

-Go for a walk in nature and wonder at God’s Creation. He created the birds and flowers, but you can be His child through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross.

-Do something nice for someone who is going through struggles. JOY is truly, Jesus—Others—Yourself.

-Read Christian Fiction where characters use their faith to make it to The End.

God never promises us an easy life, but he does promise us His peace even when we are going through tough times. You can find that promise in my favorite set of verses Philippians 4:4—­7. I recited these often during my breast cancer treatments and surgeries. You might say I had some worries during that time.

Also check out Jesus’s words in John 14:27 about Jesus leaving us His peace.

Do you have favorite verses or activities that give you comfort and JOY?

Book blurb:

Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors’ money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend’ s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up… until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?

Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade’ s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he’s come to love in danger.

You can purchase “Escape to Whispering Creek” on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, or wherever books are sold.

Barbara’s bio:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian romantic adventures for teens and adults from Bible Times to present-day USA. Her Tribes of Israel series shines a light on little-known Bible characters. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.