The Soft Life Lie

when your wellness routine becomes your god

How do you cultivate peace in your life?

When anxiety starts rising, and you feels like life is spiralling out of control, what are your go-to methods that you use to cope?

We all have our go-to's.

Maybe for you peace looks like hitting the gym, having your daily iced matcha, whipping up your favorite coffee combination, a Sunday reset routine, or a night out with the girls.

And before we go any further, I want to make this very clear to you: These things are absolutely wonderful, and I am so proud of you for being intentional about your self-care. You are in no way wrong for having healthy coping mechanisms. We all need them, and it is not a sin to love your wellness routine. God literally designed our minds, and bodies to need rest, stewardship, and rejuvenation.

But, I want you to just pause and truly take a moment to self-reflect and ask yourself this question: If at any moment you're unable to access those things? And be honest. Would you lose your peace?

Like imagine: Waking up one day and your favorite walking trail is closed, you lose your journal, or you have family in town and your entire weekend reset plans are now interrupted. And suddenly, this bubbly version of yourself is now walking around irritable, anxious, and just on 10.

We've all been there right? Or maybe it's just me. We have gotten so good at building self-care practices that make us feel grounded and whole. But how do we differentiate between genuine self-care practices and when it's giving idolatry?

when good things become god things

When we hear the word "idolatry" in regards to peace we immediately think things like crystals, horoscopes, or New Age practices. And yes, while those things definitely fall into the category of idolatry. Idolatry is not always that blatantly obvious like that.

An idol is anything that holds more weight in your heart than Christ. It's typically the first thing you run to when life gets hard. It's whatever you believe you need to function, to feel stable, and to relieve pressure when it arises.

So I want you to be real with yourself: If you couldn't hit the gym tomorrow would you be okay? Would it still be safe to be around you or am I better to run for my life? Would you still know how to cultivate peace?

If the answer is no then sis—your wellness routine has now become your source.

nothing is promised

Ok so we are going to do a little thought experimenting and warning: this may make you feel very uncomfortable.

What if they gym got banned tomorrow?

Wild right? But, stay with me. We are actively watching the global persecution of Christians rise. The freedom, as Americans that we take for granted, is literally being stripped away in other parts of the world, and to be honest, also within parts of our country as well.

The access we have to the things we love is not guaranteed. We have become so comfortable of a living a life of luxury that to us suffering equates to the Starbucks barista messing up our skinny latte. The things that we have built our lives around are all temporary.

Imagine if the places that you go to cultivate peace ( the gym, the hiking trails, the coffee shop, pilates) suddenly became off limits. If everything you have tied your emotional stability to outside of Christ was taken away.

Would you still have peace?

And if most of us are being honest, the answer is no.

And here is the issue with that: Everything we anchor our peace to outside of Christ is subject to change. And in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to our faith we need to know how to stand firm even if everything else falls away.

two kinds of peace

And Jesus has something to say regarding this that a lot of people actually misunderstand.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" - John 14:27

Ok Jesus, what does this even mean?

Jesus is actually introducing us to the reality of the two different kinds of peace.

There is the world's version of peace which is conditional.

This is the peace that is dependent on your circumstances, your wellness routine, your life going as planned.

This is the peace that says when everything is good, I feel good.

And then there is the peace of Christ, which is completely different.

It's eternal.

And often times it's the one that is the most challenging to grasp because

when Jesus says that He is our peace this does not mean that our life will be blissful and problem-free.

He means peace from the standpoint of an eternal perspective. A peace that transcends all circumstances. Peace is not the absence of chaos, it's the presence of God within the chaos.

The peace of Christ does not promise that you will never experience suffering. It promises that even with the suffering, amidst the persecution, amidst the hardships, that you are being held by someone who can not be shaken.

That is the peace that the world can not give neither can it take away.

how to anchor your peace in christ

So how do we actually do this? How do we shift from temporary peace into eternal peace?

1. Understanding the reality what is temporary

Everything that we can see with our physical eyes is temporary. Your wellness routine is temporary. Your health is temporary. Your relationships, your home, your career are all subject to change.

And believe me, this is not meant to scare you, but to free you. Because when you recognize that tangible things are fleeting, only then you will learn to hold them loosely. You enjoy them, you steward them well, but you don't cling to them so tightly that losing them would destroy you.

The unseen is eternal. Your relationship with Christ? That's forever. And the spiritual work that He is doing within you will last for eternity.

2. change your focus: fix your mind on jesus

Isaiah 26:3 says

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You."

Did you catch that correlation though? Peace comes from focus. Focus reveals trust.

When your mind is constantly on Jesus (His character, His promises, His presence) that is where peace lives.

But when your attention shifts to your problems, your fears, or your circumstances that's when the anxiety rears its ugly head into the picture.

Worry and paranoia are not merely emotions. They are symptoms, and warning indicators that reveal areas where we do not trust God.

The antidote is getting to know Him personally and experientially, not just knowing about God, but actually knowing God. Spending time in His presence. Allowing His Word to renew your mind. Building an authentic relationship with Him, that runs so deep that your peace is directly tied to who He is, and not your circumstances.

Where your focus is will determine your peace. Period.

shifting your perspective: fixate on what you have

Our brains are naturally wired to fixate on what is wrong, it's a term called negativity bias, and it's literally exhausting. But cultivating peace requires us to make an intentional decision to redirect our attention.

Instead of obsessing over what's wrong, train yourself to focus on what's available to you right now.

What do you have access to in this moment? What is working? What areas in your life are prospering? What is going good?

And the bible teaches us this practice in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where it says:

"Give thanks in all circumstances"

And mind you it does not say for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. Even in the most difficult seasons of life, there is always something to thank God for.

4. practice radical gratitude

Start small. Be thankful for even the smallest of blessings.

The fact that you woke up today? That in itself is a huge gift.

The roof you have over your head. The food in your fridge. The people who love you. Being able to move your body.

We take so much for granted and don't realize how good we actually have it until it is gone. Health. Job. Freedom. Relationships.

When you cultivate a heart that's genuinely grateful ( and not just when life is good) but as an intentional daily practice, your perspective begins to shift. You start to see God's hand in the mundanes of life. And suddenly, your peace is no longer dependent upon everything going right. It's rooted in understanding that even in the mess, God is still good, and He is still present.

final encouragement

And sis, I know this was a heavy one and maybe even uncomfortable.

But here is the truth wrapped in love:

If your peace can be taken away by losing access to a place, a person, a thing, or a resource then it was never real to begin with.

Real peace is not found in the gym, your self-care routine, a man, a paycheck, or your french vanilla iced latte ( even though we love them.)

Your peace is found in a Person.

A Person who was, who is, and who is to come.

A Person who does not change even when your circumstances do.

You were made to prosper, not just externally, but inwardly, eternally, and unshakably.

And that kind of prosperity starts with anchoring yourself in the only source of true peace that can never be stripped away: Jesus Christ.

So yes, keep taking care of yourself, and doing your thing. Keep stewarding your body, working on your vision board, processing your emotions, and building a life that you love. But let it be done from a place of overflow, and not dependence. Let your routines be tools and not your saviors.

And when everything falls way ( and one day it might) may you queen, find that Christ alone is enough.

ready to go deeper?

If this post resonated with you then imagine what a full conversation could do for your heart. Tune into the latest podcast episode of She Prays She Prospers entitled "The Idol of Peace" where we dive even deeper into anchoring your peace in Christ. Trust me sis, you don't wanna miss this one.

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Prayer. Purpose. Prosperity. Because true prosperity begins in the Spirit, flows through your soul, and manifests in your life.