When Peace Is Disrupted

This Christmas, a friend of mine experienced something no family ever expects.

An intruder broke into their home.

He walked upstairs, right where the kids were sleeping.

He didn’t take anything.

He didn’t harm anyone.

He simply walked out the front door.

The intruder was masked and caught on camera, but there still isn’t enough evidence to identify who it was.

My friend lives in a safe neighborhood, the kind of place where you never think something like this could happen. When he told me the story, I felt two things at the same time: shock and anger. Shock that it happened at all and anger that someone would violate the peace of a family like that.

His wife and kids were shaken. Nights became restless. Sleep didn’t come easily anymore.

But something else happened, too.

As the man of the house, he became proactive.

He installed cameras.

He added floodlights.

He made sure the security system was fully set up and working.

He couldn’t undo what happened, but he could prepare for what might come next.

A Spiritual Reality We Can’t Ignore

That situation hit me with a sobering reminder.

This is exactly how the enemy works.

Satan is like that intruder, always looking for a way in. Always searching for an opening to disrupt peace, instill fear, and shake what feels safe. Scripture tells us plainly that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and that he prowls like a lion waiting for the right moment.

Not to make us panic.

Not to live in fear.

But to make us aware.

The key is this. We don’t raise our anxiety levels. We raise our readiness.

Just like my friend didn’t live in constant fear after the break-in, but instead took wise steps to protect his home, we are called to be proactive in our faith.

Living Prepared, Not Paranoid

We live in a spiritual war zone, whether we acknowledge it or not. Spiritual warfare is real, and it is not something to take lightly.

That is why growing deeper in our faith matters so much.

When we spend time in God’s Word, when we pray consistently, when we surround ourselves with godly community, we are installing spiritual cameras, lights, and alarms. We are building a foundation that helps us stand firm when the enemy knocks or tries to enter uninvited.

Preparedness does not mean fear.

It means confidence.

It means peace rooted in Christ.

So the question is not if trials or attacks will come. The question is whether we are ready when they do.

Let us be people who guard our homes, our hearts, and our faith well.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in my life has my peace been disrupted recently, and how did I respond—fear or preparation?
2. Are there any “doors” in my life I’ve left unlocked spiritually that God is inviting me to be more intentional about?
3. What is one practical step I can take this week to raise my spiritual readiness instead of my anxiety?

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Valentina Shilkina

Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.