We recorded this episode less than one week after Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States, knowing it would publish one day after the presidential elections. Devastating loss is all around. So is chaos. Fear has been eating our peace for lunch since this decade began. Maybe it's because what we're experiencing isn't really peace. Maybe it's pseudo-peace. Listen in as we share wisdom from Dr. Jim Wilder, Dr. Todd Hall, Dr. Curt Thompson, Jamie Winship and more. We start this episode with this working definition of PEACE: Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it's a deep sense of security and relational harmony. It comes from trusting God, living in our true identity, and being deeply connected to others in love and truth. Peace allows us to live without fear, rooted in our identity in Christ, and to offer grace and connection to others. We share personal stories of chaos and moving on in the direction we learned from insecure attachment patterns - and how that's different than moving on in the direction we experience in secure relationships with God and others. Listen and linger in these TAKEAWAYS:

1. Peace isn't something we have outside of a secure relationship. It is the gift of a secure relationship. Parents, peace is a gift we're designed to give our children, so they will learn to receive it from their heavenly Father, too.
2. "And everything I've taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!" John 16:33 (The Passion Translation)
3. Ultimately, healing our early attachment wounds and moving toward secure attachment with God and others is essential for experiencing true peace in life. True peace comes from living in our authentic identity, secure in God's love and grace, and being able to offer that same love and security in our relationships with others.

Please pray with us about our upcoming end of year campaign for John 15 Academy. Because we're excited about a new initiative we get to offer that will have impact and influence on hundreds (maybe thousands!) of families, we're setting our biggest fundraising goal ever. Visit our website to sign up for our newsletter, THE CURATED LIFE, and to give now. We promised links to these three LIF episodes in today's conversation: An episode from New Year's Eve, 2019 - #79 - How Does Fear Make Us Weak? We talk about the healing power of lament in #134 - G is for GRIEF, GRATITUDE, and GENEROSITY An episode with John Lynch - #86 - Why Love Is The Only Weapon Against Self-Sabotage DON'T FORGET - We have MERCH! Find fun choices by visiting the LOVE IS FEARLESS collection on dicksonthreads.com. Thank you, Jana Dickson, for making a donation to John 15 Academy for every purchase made from this collection. Together, there is great hope.