Originally published in 2015, Dan has just recently updated PERFECT PEACE (in Imperfect Times) for 2026, including a brand new cover. It’s received 174 Amazon Reviews (90% of them 5 Stars).
Here’s a 5-Star Review just posted 2 weeks ago: “I absolutely love this devotional book by Dan Walsh. I keep reading it over and over, each time seeing something new. I hope that he will write another one soon. I love how he shares from his heart his own experiences and is so open and honest with the things he himself as a pastor has struggled with. The book truly has given me so much peace and encouragement in my relationship with the Lord. I can’t recommend this book enough.”
READ A SNEEK PEAK HERE (Dan’s Introduction to the Book):
Years ago, I kept a journal during my quiet times. I didn’t do it every day, but when a Scriptural theme stirred inside me and captivated my attention in a special way, I wrote it down. Writing things down often helps me think more clearly. What did I journal about? Mostly things that helped me trust God more and live more aware of His presence in my life.
And about things that helped me not to worry.
I don’t worry about everything in general. But when I do, it’s usually about the uncertain things going on in my life. Can you relate? Perhaps you are aware of a lack of peace in your soul right now. Maybe something is troubling you, making you feel restless or unsettled. Just thinking about it can rob you of joy.
I’m talking about things like unanswered questions. Unanswered prayers. Or prayers that were answered, but it seemed like the wrong answer. You don’t know why God did what He did or allowed something unpleasant to happen. You try not to think about these things, try all sorts of things to blot them out. But they keep popping back up. When you do something to alleviate the stress, it doesn’t last very long. The fretting thoughts are right there to greet you when you’re done. Why is that?
I think it’s because, deep inside, we know these things that unsettle us are real. They aren’t figments of our imagination. Life really is hard at times and full of uncertainty. The longer we live, the more obvious this becomes. We don’t feel in control, because, well… we’re not.
Too many unplanned things have happened. Too many unwanted surprises. Things we worked hard for did not happen. Other things we never wanted to happen happened instead. This didn’t just occur once or on rare occasions. But several times. And if you’re old enough, maybe more times than you can count.
Each time we experience a “life ambush,” we become more aware of how little control we have. So we worry… and fret. About the uncertain things going on in our lives now, or the things that may come after that. Even when things are going well, we may worry about what might bring these good days to an end.
You’ve probably heard that the Bible is full of God’s promises. Here’s one of them: This life will be filled with trouble. I’m paraphrasing here, but there are at least a dozen other verses that say this. Jesus said something just like this at the Last Supper in John 16:23. The truth is, we can’t avoid the problems and trials in life any more than we can dodge raindrops running through a parking lot.
Trouble-free living is not what the Bible offers.
But at the Last Supper, Jesus followed that promise of trouble with this: “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” The Bible may promise a life filled with trouble, but it also promises it is possible to live our lives filled with joy, peace, and freedom from worry.
How? Well, we need a little help. We can’t get there on our own.
Left to ourselves, we drift easily into worrying and fretting about everything. This leads us into even more trouble. When we’re anxious, we’ll do things that make our situation worse, and make us feel worse about our situation.
Experiencing this promised joy and peace doesn’t come automatically. There’s something we must do. A choice we must make. A verse in Isaiah explains what that choice is. It is a path to true peace in this life.
A Perfect Peace.
“You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you. Because he trusts you.” (Isa. 26:3, ESV)
That’s what this little book is about. Learning this secret. Not just in our heads, but also in our hearts. How to keep our minds “stayed on Him” and, in those times when our mind wanders, how to find our way back quickly. It’s a kind of peace the world cannot give and cannot take away. It costs us nothing, but it cost Jesus everything. And because He paid that price this peace is always available to every Christian, at every moment of the day.
But having this information is not the same as living in the good of it, day after day, week after week. So day after day, week after week for the next month or so, we’re going to look intently at this truth of God, this promise God holds out to us.
A promise of Perfect Peace.
The goal will be to apprehend it, to own it, to develop new habits that will help us keep our minds “stayed on Him.”
CLICK HERE to get it on Amazon – FREE on Kindle Unlimited, only $3.99 on Kindle (also in Print and Audio). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UTPSE7M