Podcast Summary: "The Missing Peace"

Podcast: Fresh Life Church
Host: Pastor Levi Lusko (Lead Pastor)
Date: February 24, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, titled "The Missing Peace," is a deep dive into the biblical idea of peace as shown through Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), and how believers can find, embody, and maintain true peace in a chaotic world. Through storytelling, practical examples, and a memorable hymn, Pastor Levi Lusko highlights that the peace Jesus offers isn't fleeting or circumstantial—it's a permanent, transformative gift meant to anchor believers in the midst of life's storms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Peace is Promised, Not Temporary

• Opening Declaration: The pastors invite the congregation to make a declaration:

  “Today the Holy Spirit is going to speak to me about peace … the peace Jesus promised was not temporary. It is permanent and eternal.” (00:44–01:09)

• The episode sets out to dismantle the myth that following Jesus means a carefree life.

  “Walking with Jesus never exempted us from life's calamities. He promised us that he would be with us in those calamities.” (08:25)

2. Mark’s Gospel and the Disciples’ Storm

• Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41 is read from the Tree of Life version, emphasizing a Jewish perspective.
• Action-Packed Gospel: Mark’s storytelling—“just like a teenager’s recap”—focuses on the “juicy bits” and immediate actions:

  “Mark is the shortest because Mark was one of the youngest … he only wants the juicy bits.” (04:11–05:09)

• Storm on the Lake: Jesus and the disciples head across the lake when a storm arises. The disciples—seasoned fishermen—are frightened, while Jesus naps on a pillow:

  “You don’t accidentally nap on a pillow. If you put your head to the pillow, you mean to go to sleep. The Messiah knows what’s about to happen, and His response … is, I’m going to take a nap.” (09:28–09:33)

3. The Nature of True Peace

• The disciples’ panic leads them to accuse Jesus:

  “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (11:54)

• The pastors explore how being dysregulated by fear causes us to misinterpret Jesus’ presence.
• Key Teaching:
  • Jesus Rebukes the Wind, Not the Waves:

    “The Messiah knows what to rebuke and what to tell to keep quiet. A lot of us would have rebuked the waves … but the Messiah is so attuned … He knows the waves are not the problem. The wind is.” (15:24–16:06)

  • Peace is Not Two Things:

    “Jesus teaches us a lesson: peace is quiet. It’s not two separate things. It’s one thing.” (14:28)

  • Applying this practically:

    “I learned to do this with my kids … I had to figure out what’s agitating you that’s agitating me … I need to rebuke the right thing.” (16:34–16:45)

4. The Gift of Peace: Permanent, Not Expiring

• John 14:27 is quoted:

  "I am leaving you with a gift. Shalom. I leave you my shalom. I give to you, but not as the world gives ... the world has a version of peace, it expires." (18:45–19:14)

• Peace from Jesus is different from worldly peace—it's lasting and internal:

  “If you don’t have peace, it won’t matter.” (19:33–19:36)

• The presence of the Holy Spirit means peace lives inside believers, yet often still requires intention and daily effort to maintain:

  “How are we still so dysregulated when we have peace on the inside of us?” (20:46)

5. Peace Must Be Made, Not Just Kept

• It’s not enough to simply want peace—believers must make peace:

  “Scripture says this … blessed are the peacemakers. I have to make this every single day, even on days I don’t want to.” (24:45–25:05)

• Personal Example – Forgiveness and Internal Struggle:
  • Pastor Levi transparently shares a story about a falling out with a business partner and his struggle to let go:

    “I was not resting in the peace that I’m talking about right now … I wanted to knock him out for six months. I had to wake up every day for six months and say, I choose your peace so that I could regulate and not be so angry.” (25:52–27:00)

  • The process led to true peace, forgiveness, and an absence of bitterness:

    “Even though I’m mad at my brother, I can’t punch my brother in the mouth … And then after a while, it’s just, that’s my brother and I love him.” (27:55–29:02)

6. The Story Behind "It Is Well with My Soul"

• Pastor Levi recounts the intense tragedy behind Horatio Spafford writing the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”:

  “His son dies … Chicago fire … his wife and four daughters shipwrecked, his four daughters die … traveling over the same space, this dude writes, When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever, my lot … thou hast taught me to say … It is well with my soul.” (31:25–34:03)

• Application: True peace is not based on circumstances:

  “That’s a guy that says, I know I had plans, but they don’t matter. My peace isn’t contingent on everything going right.” (33:26–33:41)

7. Practical Wisdom: Opting Out of Chaos

• Instead of being controlled by circumstances, believers are encouraged to "opt out" of participation in chaos:

  “Peace within the believer is supposed to make us turn every environment … externally into what we are feeling and carrying internally. And you have to fight to keep the peace.” (23:31–23:47)

• Notable Metaphors:
  “Don’t you want to be able to put your head on your pillow and just go to sleep? Like, peace is supposed to make everything quiet … Even if there’s an eviction notice, right now, I’m going to sleep.” (23:15–35:39)

8. Closing Challenge and Prayer

• The episode ends with a call to action, reminding listeners that peace is something they make, not just keep, and that the Spirit can clarify what to rebuke and what to calm down in our lives.
• Closing Prayer:

  “Holy Spirit … I pray, Lord Jesus, that the peace that you promised through the Holy Spirit would be tangibly felt by every person in our rooms. And may we carry this peace into a very stormy, tumultuous world. And, Holy Spirit, would you make it clear what we need to rebuke and what we need to tell to calm down?” (36:11–38:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the myth of a trouble-free faith:

  “Giving your life to Jesus does not mean we will now tra-la-la-la through a lily field … It's not the Lego movie. That’s not the gospel.” (07:59–08:50)

• On Jesus’ strategic nap:

  “The Messiah knows what’s about to happen, and his response … is, I’m going to take a nap.” (09:28)

• On inner versus external turmoil:

  “The Messiah … comes out and he makes what is external match what is going on internally with him.” (15:15)

• On what peace looks like in adversity:

  “This entire world could be chaotic. But I won’t be.” (21:44)

• On opting out of panic:

  “I just refuse to join you there. This is not the way I’m going to die.” (23:33–23:49)

• On the battle for peace:

  “You have to contend for the … peace. It says, blessed are the peacemakers. I have to make this every single day, even on days I don’t want to.” (24:45–25:05)

• On the permanence of Jesus’ peace:

  “If you don’t have peace, it won’t matter.” (19:36)

• On forgiveness and letting go:

  “Even though I’m mad at my brother, I can’t punch my brother in the mouth … And then after a while, it’s just, that’s my brother and I love him.” (27:55–29:02)

• On living with peace regardless of hardship:

  “My peace isn’t contingent on everything going right.” (33:26–33:41)

• On the peace Jesus offers:

  “It’s not just something that Jesus demonstrates. It’s something he promises. It’s not just something he promised. It’s something he planted.” (29:02–29:32)

Significant Timestamps

• 00:44 – Congregational declaration about peace
• 02:00 – Reading of Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus calms the storm)
• 07:59 – Breaking the myth that faith equals an easy life
• 11:54 – Disciples’ panic: “Teacher, do you not care…?”
• 14:28 – Lesson that “peace is quiet”
• 18:45 – Jesus’ gift of peace (John 14:27)
• 21:44 – Transformation of the disciples through peace
• 25:52 – Personal story: fighting for peace after conflict
• 31:25 – Horatio Spafford and “It Is Well with My Soul”
• 36:11 – Closing prayer for peace and discernment

Summary Flow & Takeaway

"The Missing Peace" challenges listeners to shift from seeking circumstantial peace to embracing the unshakable peace Jesus gives—peace that is powerful enough to outlast any storm or betrayal, rooted in who Jesus is, not what we experience. Through scriptural exploration, story, confession of personal struggle, and historical hymnody, Pastor Levi Lusko urges every believer to become not just a peacekeeper, but a peacemaker—daily, intentionally, by the Spirit’s help.

Key takeaway:

The peace you need isn’t missing; it’s Jesus Himself—living in you, offered afresh, and crafted anew each day as you choose to trust Him above your circumstances.