How to Feed Your Soul and Grow Lasting Peace (Galatians 5:22)

Peace is something we’re all supposed to have, right? But if we’re honest, it can feel hard to hold onto.

You’re reading your Bible. Trying to stay positive. Showing up at church. Doing all the things that are supposed to help. But inside? You still feel depleted. Stuck. Like you’re pouring yourself into everything… except your own soul.

It’s something many of us wrestle with more often than we admit. We long for calm and clarity—but live in a swirl of distraction, pressure, and noise.

So what’s going on?

According to Galatians 5:22, peace is not a feeling you manufacture or a reward you earn for getting everything right. It’s a fruit of the Spirit—a work of God within us, something that grows when our souls are nourished by His presence.

But in the rush of everyday life, we often end up feeding our stress more than our spirits. No wonder peace feels so elusive.

This article takes a deep and honest look at why peace often slips through our fingers—and offers practical insight into how to cultivate lasting peace by tending to what truly fuels your soul.

Here’s What You’ll Find in This Post:

• A biblical understanding of peace from Galatians 5:22–23
• What it means to keep in step with the Spirit—and why it matters for your emotional health
• A powerful reflection on how to recognize what’s feeding your stress vs. your spirit
• A personal story of finding peace in grief, loneliness, and spiritual weariness
• Six practical, soul-nourishing habits that help peace take root in everyday life
• A gentle challenge to choose one thing that will nourish your spirit today
• A free downloadable resource: Soul Care Made Simple—14 daily practices to restore peace and connection with God

What Does Galatians 5 Teach Us About Peace?

Galatians 5:22–23 gives us this list of spiritual fruit—qualities that show up in our lives when we’re walking with God:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
— Galatians 5:22–23

These aren’t personality traits or performance goals—they’re evidence that the Spirit is at work within us.

Peace isn’t something we grow by trying harder—it’s something God produces in us as we stay connected to His Spirit.

Why Does Peace Feel So Hard to Hold Onto?

You can’t nourish the Spirit on a steady diet of stress.

Even when we’re doing spiritual things, we’re often feeding our flesh with a mix of anxiety, pressure, perfectionism, and distraction.

You can’t grow the fruit of the Spirit in the soil of the flesh. And you can’t feed your soul with stress and expect the Spirit to grow peace.

Peace doesn’t grow in the absence of stress—it grows in the presence of the Spirit.
And that means we need to stop striving… and start nourishing.

Here’s a truth we often forget:

Your soul is always being nourished by something.

• Every scroll
• Every soundtrack of your thoughts
• Every anxious conversation
• Every late-night worry loop
• Every boundary you ignore

These things impact the soil of your inner life. They either feed your flesh or nurture your spirit.

When You Feed Your Soul the Wrong Things

Larissa Traquair shares how the Holy Spirit gently revealed that she had been feeding her stress more than her spirit—ruminating on past hurts, rejection, and loss.

After a particularly hard day, she wrote down these three words: rejected, lonely, not important.

They were honest.

They were raw.

And they were also feeding the wrong part of her.

Through Scripture, she was reminded that while her feelings were real, they weren’t the whole truth.

“God’s Word is truer and way more helpful than the narratives my pain repeats.” 

What Nourishes Your Soul and Helps Peace Grow?

Let’s get practical. Below are six ways you can start nourishing your spirit today—simple rhythms that create space for peace to grow.

1. Slow Obedience

Peace takes root when we do the last thing God asked us to do.
Obedience isn’t always flashy—but it’s a quiet way of aligning with God’s will. That’s where rest is found.

“Peace I leave with you… do not let your hearts be troubled.” — John 14:27 

2. Curated Inputs

Not everything you consume is neutral. Turn down the volume on anxiety-inducing inputs like social media, 24/7 news, or internal self-criticism.
Clearing mental clutter isn’t just practical—it’s spiritual.

3. Community That Nourishes

We all need people who remind us of truth and draw us closer to Jesus.
Think of a friend who prays with you. A mentor who listens. A sister in Christ who simply sits with you.
Peace grows stronger in that kind of community.

4. Whole-Person Care

Your body and soul are connected. When you care for your physical needs—rest, movement, nourishment—your spirit becomes more receptive. This isn’t selfish. It’s stewardship.

5. Practices of Presence

Step outside into the morning light.
Pause and breathe deeply.
Snap a picture of something beautiful.
These aren’t extras—they’re quiet ways to notice God’s nearness.

6. Sacred Repetition

Simple, steady habits (like reciting a verse or writing a daily blessing) become spiritual nutrients over time.
These small rhythms remind your soul what’s true—even when emotions scream otherwise.

Which one of these speaks refreshment to your spirit?

You don’t have to do them all. Just choose one.

Write it down.
Name it.
And practice it with intention this week.

Peace doesn’t grow by chance—it grows where the Spirit is fed.

What Are You Feeding Your Soul?

Let’s pause here and be gently honest with ourselves. Reflect on these questions:

• What’s nurturing my spirit right now?
• What’s feeding my stress?
• What’s helping peace grow?
• What might be quietly choking it out?

If it helps, write them down—two lists, side by side. Seeing it in black and white can bring surprising clarity.

As Larissa said:

“Your soul is always being nourished by something. Every input—every scroll, every conversation, every thought—feeds either your stress or your peace.”

This isn’t about guilt—it’s about growth.

God isn’t pointing things out to condemn you. He reveals so He can renew.

So don’t rush past the reflection. Let it guide your next step.

You don’t have to fix everything today.
Just start with one nourishing choice.

Because peace grows where the soul is fed.

Speak Peace Over Your Life

Scripture-Based Affirmations to Nourish Your Spirit

What we speak reinforces what we believe—and when peace feels distant, affirming God’s truth can re-center your heart. These biblical affirmations, rooted in Galatians 5:22–25 and John 14:27, are simple, powerful ways to feed your soul with truth and gently shift your mindset toward peace.

Say them aloud. Write them in your journal. Whisper them in prayer. Let them settle deep into your heart.

1. God is growing peace in me through His Spirit—I don’t have to force it or fake it. (Galatians 5:22)
2. I walk in step with the Spirit today. (Galatians 5:25)
3. God’s peace is already mine through Jesus. (John 14:27)
4. I will not let my heart be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
5. Peace is evidence of God at work in me. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Which of these truths does your heart need to hold onto most today?

Ready to Restore Your Peace and Reconnect with God?

Download the free guide:

📝 Soul Care Made Simple

This beautifully designed PDF gives you 14 nourishing practices to care for your soul in everyday life. Whether you have 10 minutes or an hour, these habits will help you slow down, reconnect with God, and feed the peace your soul is hungry for.

👉 Download it here

FAQ

What does it mean to “feed the soul”?

Feeding the soul means giving your soul spiritual nourishment—truths, practices, thoughts, habits, and relationships that help you stay connected to God and open to His work in you.

What are signs I’m feeding my stress?

Common signs include constant mental noise, emotional exhaustion, irritability, people-pleasing, overconsumption (of media, food, etc.), or numbing behaviors that leave you spiritually empty.

Is it wrong to feel anxious or overwhelmed?

No. Emotions are not sinful—they are indicators. The key is to listen to what they’re pointing to and respond with spiritual truth, not self-condemnation.

Why is peace so hard to hold onto?

Peace is not a personality trait—it’s the fruit of the Spirit. If you’re feeding your stress more than your spirit, peace won’t flourish. But when you nourish your soul, peace grows naturally.

Ginger Harrington is the author of Holy in the Moment, host of the Habits of Hope Podcast, and founder of The Deeper Life Collection. With warmth and wisdom, she helps women cultivate spiritual habits that lead to deeper peace, purpose, and joy in everyday life. Find encouragement, free resources, and biblical truth at gingerharrington.com.

Explore the Full Series: Habits of Peace

Looking for more ways to anchor your heart in God’s peace?

• 40.Need a Little Peace? A Simple Habit to Notice When Peace is Missing
• 41.How to Pursue Peace God’s Way: A Simple Habit to Calm Your Soul
• 42.Peace is a Person: How to Embrace Calm in the Presence of Christ
• 43.How to Find Perfect Peace When You Feel Stressed (Isaiah 26:3) 
• 44.One Peaceful Habit to Respond with Grace When You’re Angry
• 45.How to Let Go of Control and Let Peace Rule in Your Heart
• 46.Peacemaker vs Peacekeeper? How Jesus Calls Us to Respond to Conflict
• 47.Why Do I Keep Losing My Peace-Even When I’m Trying to Trust God?

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