Peace is something we often don’t realize we’re missing until it’s gone. And when it’s gone, everything feels harder—more stressful, more chaotic, more overwhelming. That’s why learning how to guard your peace is essential, especially when life feels out of control.
I didn’t always understand this. During high school, I was in a relationship that drained me emotionally. I didn’t have the language for it then, but I was anxious all the time. My mind was constantly racing, and I felt uneasy in ways I couldn’t explain. I thought maybe it was just part of being a teenager—until someone close to me noticed something deeper was going on.
My mom picked up on me being stressed and anxious and she gave me some advice that will stay with me forever. She told me to memorize Philippians 4:7:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Then she told me something that changed how I viewed peace forever. She said, “Imagine that your guard dog is peace. As long as you stay behind your guard dog, you’ll be protected. But if you try to go out in front of it, things might not go so well.”
That image stuck with me. It’s simple, but powerful. Peace as a protector. Peace as something living and active that I can follow—not something I have to create on my own.
To this day, that is my favorite scripture. And whenever I start to feel anxious, I imagine that guard dog walking in front of me. For me—it works. It gives me a mental and spiritual reset. After putting that into practice, my life became less anxious. And when stress did show up, I finally had a tool to help me manage it. I also ended that relationship my senior year of high school, and I surrounded myself with people who lifted me up instead of dragging me down. That shift changed my entire mindset.
Guarding your peace doesn’t mean avoiding life. It means being intentional with where you go, who you let in, and how you respond. It means checking in with yourself, trusting God, and setting boundaries without guilt.
Peace doesn’t always make sense to the world. That’s why the verse says it “surpasses all understanding.” But when you choose to stay behind it, when you let it lead, everything else starts to align.
So if you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed today, take a moment. Breathe. Picture your own guard dog—peace—walking in front of you. And trust that as long as you follow it, you’re right where you need to be.