UNSTOPPABLE PEACE: A Story of Hope -When Silent Enduring Ceased and Living Overcame

By Carrielynn Peace

Have you been trying to be submissive to your husband but nothing you do seems good enough to please him? Have friends or relatives hinted that you are in an abusive relationship? Are you wondering about that yourself? Are you afraid to face the truth? Does your soul ache for dignity, passion, beau

• Language: English
• Publisher: Electric Moon Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Dec 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781943027668

Book preview

ENDORSEMENTS

Carrielynn is a strong person because she has a strong Savior. Hard decisions are never easy, but when God is leading our thoughts and steps supernatural things happen. God is always more sovereign than our best decision, all trials are tests of our faith, some abandon their faith in trials great and small, and Carrielynn obediently trusted our wonderful Savior through hers. The question for all of us is—who are we trusting in our time of testing? (Proverbs 3:5–6)

—Dr. Dow Richard Pursley,

Retired Professor, Author of

Radical Heart/Radical Marriage (How Life Works)

and Finances: Biblical Wisdom/Radical Action (How Life Works)

"I honestly believe that my friendship with Carrielynn was ordained by the Lord. We served together at church for years while raising our families. We shared meals, outings, lots of caffeine, and tons of laughs! In doing so, we grew to be not only close friends but also sisters in Christ. Throughout the years Carrielynn would often request prayer for wisdom. I did not always know the full meaning of her frequent petitions, but I do know God’s wisdom is what she desires more than anything else. There were countless times over the years that Carrielynn’s humor and quick wit, along with her prayerful advice and discernment, have seen me through my own personal struggles. Carrielynn adores people and has a special way of uplifting them. With her very life, she shows others how to have confidence in the Lord. She is a born teacher! From trips to the store or vacations out of state, she always finds a way to help someone out—friend or stranger. I often heard her say to youth, teens, or adults, To obey is better than sacrifice, from 1 Samuel 15:22. It is amazing to see how our Lord and Savior has used this very dear friend despite the trials she has endured in her life. You will get a small taste of this while reading this amazing, well-written, and very personal book. Are you looking for a trustworthy, encouraging, and funny friend? I would be glad to share her with you! Believe me—you will be blessed!"

—Tami Lyn

Author, Gift Designer at

www.tamiyncreations.com

Copyright 2023 by Carrielynn Peace

Published through Electric Moon Publishing, LLC

©2023 UNSTOPPABLE PEACE: A Story of Hope –When Silent Enduring Ceased and Living Overcame / Carrielynn Peace

Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-943027-65-1

E-book ISBN-13: 978-1-943027-66-8

Electric Moon Publishing, LLC

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Stromsburg, NE 68666

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Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

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Dedicated to God, the hero of my story;

to Thomas, Heidi, and Rachel, my inspiration;

and to Tami and Jojo, my Aaron and Hur.

CONTENTS

Dear Reader

Introduction

Chapter 1: Enduring

Chapter 2: Choices

Chapter 3: Learning

Chapter 4: Leaping

Chapter 5: Tricked

Chapter 6: Clarity

Chapter 7: Flourishing

Setting Your Own Goals

Addendum

Glossary

Dear reader,

Storms destroy. They also offer an opportunity to rebuild. No, not an opportunity. That sounds too nice. Storms force us to rebuild. At times, life huffs, puffs, and blows, slamming so hard that sometimes we cannot take a breath. We gasp for air, reminded that this tidal wave is determined on our destruction and our peace of mind. I do mean determined. Determined to achieve something at all costs. Your peace is at stake.

You will find parts of your story in Hope’s, who lived through a tornadic-type storm. She crawled out of the ruins and now stands on high ground, and you will too.

If you have ever wondered if God was there, and if He was, then why was He allowing you or those you love to go through this, you are not alone. The life, experiences, and growth we see in Hope’s story will inspire you. You too can live a life of dignity, beauty, and purpose. Your life has a preordained purpose.

Resting in your grip is the fulfillment of a promise I made to God; to comfort those with the same comfort He so beautifully and wholly provided to me when my heart, family, ministry, and life crashed against the rocks. He bent down, took my hand, and lifted me.

When I asked Him what was next, he led me through the rooms of my life that I was convinced were beyond repair, and He showed me I was wrong. Emotionally, spiritually, financially, educationally, physically, and socially—all these regions were hit by a category five storm. But the Rescuer had seen devastation like this before. He knew how to reconstruct the ruins.

The answers to my despair were found during the thousands of hours with my Bible open and my pen scribbling every truth He taught me into my journal. In those many hours at His feet, I gleaned a life of Unstoppable Peace.

Within each chapter we will open our Bibles together and etch the truths we learn into our hearts; because that is where healing is found. I pray that the story of Hope is the inspiration you need to write your own story of Unstoppable Peace, even if God’s purpose is not your plan.

At the end of the book I will share the goals I felt God pour into my heart, and I will delineate the steps I took to accomplish them. A goal without a plan is just a foggy dream that soon floats into an abyss. My heart’s desire is that the plan I utilized and spelled out will encourage you to set out on your own course. I pray God and the word He instilled in me will set a flame in your soul to set your own goals so you can stand again, even stronger. If you believe, as I do, that you have been led to this book, then let’s believe God together that He has a plan of restoration for you.

My dear friend, this Unstoppable Peace series began as one book. It was packed with so many stories, biblical truths, and heartfelt desires for your growth that it needed to be divided into three manuscripts. Okay, to say that differently . . . I was just way too wordy! So after poring over Hope’s story, dig into Grace’s and Faith’s. They are all a part of my story and so many others that I have been blessed to know, and they each have biblical truths intertwined.

With love,

Carrielynn

INTRODUCTION

. . . behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers [and sisters].

(Luke 22:31–32 NASB)

As I was visiting friends in their extravagant housing development, one of my greatest joys was taking long morning walks through the lovely homes that sat in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains. With bricks accenting the warm hues of these luxurious homes, I breathed in the cool Colorado air. I was in awe of not just the grand abodes but also how the expansive homes had their yards decorated with multicolored stone, and bright blossoming trees hovering around an outdoor fireplace. This was a radiant space for my friends to make their home.

I wound around the bend and came to a street with homes that were in process. Some were just being framed, some were having illustrious furniture delivered, and some were at the beginning stages; the hole to lay the foundation was just being dug. As I headed back to my dear friends’ house, I contemplated how our lives were like the homes in this neighborhood.

I inhaled the beauty of the spaces in their different stages. A common welcome sign greeted me on the well-groomed path weaving through the neighborhood: A GREAT PLACE TO BUILD YOUR LIFE. Boy, did this resonate with exactly what I was doing.

Genelle, I went down some new paths, I told my pal. I noticed all around your development that homes are in process. Like our lives, I thought about the work to be done and how far along we have all gotten. Because of her beautiful home, her husband’s dream job, and the fitness goals that the entire family had, I acknowledged that my friend’s family mirrored their lovely home—just perfect.

As I pondered the different stages of each home, I thought about the different stages that each of our lives is in. My life was a remodel. Some of these homes are perfect, some are far beyond perfect, with well-groomed lawns, pristine entryways, budding flowers lined up impeccably, and blossoming trees. They look so flawless that it’s hard to believe a family lives there.

I know, my friend acknowledged.

Then I thought about where God has allowed me to be at this time. I feel like I am a home, just being framed, I said.

No, I think you are a beautiful new home, ready for a family to move in. You are complete.

I sure didn’t feel complete. I felt like the contractor who was struggling to get ahold of the electrician. The cabinets still needed to be hung and the plumber was MIA. I was still undone. On the outside I probably looked like a warm, cozy home, but on the inside, though I was no longer empty from the loss of my marriage, the plan was still in process.

I praise God for friends who can show us the signs we cannot see ourselves. Along with the glass-half-full positivity, it is coupled with a sense of responsibility and drive for learning that tells me to constantly keep growing. While I am driven,