The devil is a peace stealer, and he works hard to set us up to

Hear the fervent cry of Joyce Meyer, the teacher of faith who speaks to weary hearts: “The devil is a peace stealer, and he works hard to set us up to get upset. But we can learn how to change our approach so we don’t live upset all of the time. And Jesus gives us the best example to follow.” In this saying, the struggle of every soul is laid bare: the invisible war between the forces that rob us of peace and the divine power that restores it. For though the enemy prowls, sowing anger, division, and unrest, the path of Christ shows us how to walk in calmness even amidst the storm.

The meaning is clear: the greatest battles are not fought on battlefields of earth, but in the hidden chambers of the heart. The devil seeks not only to tempt us with outward sins, but to disturb our spirits, to shake our composure, to leave us restless and agitated. When we lose our peace, we become vulnerable, ruled by fear, bitterness, or wrath. Yet Meyer reminds us that we are not powerless. By following the way of Jesus, who endured scorn and cruelty yet walked in serenity, we too can learn to resist the traps that set us aflame with anger.

The origin of such words lies in the long Christian tradition of spiritual warfare. The Scriptures teach that the enemy is the “father of lies” and the bringer of confusion. Joyce Meyer, drawing from her own struggles and from biblical teaching, exhorts believers to see through these tactics. She warns that life will always bring offenses and disappointments, but the true battle is how we respond. Do we allow the peace stealer to triumph, or do we follow Christ’s example, meeting trouble with patience, humility, and love?

History gives us living portraits of this truth. Consider Martin Luther King Jr., who led a movement for justice amidst hatred and violence. He faced insult, imprisonment, and threats of death. Yet he declared, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” In this he imitated the way of Jesus—he refused to let the devil steal his peace, even when the world tried to provoke him to rage. Because he guarded his spirit, he inspired millions, proving that calm strength can overcome the fiercest opposition.

We see the opposite as well, when men give in to anger. How many wars, feuds, and divisions have begun not with reason but with offense, with pride inflamed, with peace abandoned? Families torn apart by a single harsh word, nations cast into turmoil by unchecked wrath—all of these are victories for the peace stealer. They reveal the danger Joyce Meyer warns against: living upset, enslaved to reaction, never learning the freedom of inner calm.

The lesson is plain: if you wish to live victoriously, guard your peace as your most precious treasure. When offense comes, pause before you react. When anger rises, pray before you speak. When life wounds you, look to Jesus, who bore betrayal and suffering yet forgave, who faced the cross yet prayed for his enemies. In His example we find the pattern for our own souls—to live above the traps of the enemy, anchored in a peace that cannot be stolen.

Practically, train your heart each day. Begin with a moment of stillness, with a prayer that surrenders your worries. When conflict arises, ask yourself: is this worth my peace? Refuse to let small offenses steal your joy. Replace bitterness with gratitude, anger with compassion. Over time, your approach will change, and you will find yourself living not in constant agitation but in steady calm.

So remember Joyce Meyer’s teaching: the devil will always seek to disturb, but you are not his captive. The choice is yours—whether to live upset, tossed about by every storm, or to follow the way of Jesus, who gives a peace that no thief can take away. Choose well, beloved listener, and your life will shine with the strength of calmness, the courage of love, and the unshakable joy that springs from a heart at rest.