Your 5 PM Peace Check: Today's News Without the Panic

Take a breath. Pour your coffee. Let's catch up on what happened today: without the spiral.

This is your 5 PM Peace Check: the news you need, filtered through truth and anchored in the One who holds tomorrow. No fear-mongering. No tribal spin. Just the facts, a biblical lens, and a practical way forward.

Here's what you need to know from Sunday, February 22, 2026.

What Happened Today: The Facts

Travel Chaos Ahead

More than 6,000 flights have been cancelled as a massive winter storm barrels across the country. Disruptions are expected to continue through at least Wednesday. The timing couldn't be worse: the ongoing government shutdown has forced the Department of Homeland Security to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs, adding extra delays and frustration for travelers trying to navigate airport security.

Political Landscape

A new ABC News/Washington Post/IPSOS poll shows President Trump's approval rating at 39%. The administration faces several significant challenges this week: the Supreme Court recently struck down a key element of the president's tariff strategy, though Trump is reportedly planning to move forward with new taxes on foreign goods. He's also scheduled to deliver a State of the Union address in the coming days.

Rising International Tensions

The Trump administration is considering limited military strikes against Iran as a way to pressure the country into a nuclear deal. The U.S. has been building up military assets in the region. Iran has warned it will retaliate against U.S. bases if attacked, though the Iranian foreign minister has indicated some willingness to negotiate. Meanwhile, overnight explosions in Lviv, Ukraine killed one police officer and injured 24 others when homemade devices were detonated in the western part of the country.

Other Headlines

Canada's men's hockey team captured the silver medal at the Winter Olympics after a close match against the United States. An armed intruder was shot by the U.S. Secret Service after breaching the secured perimeter at President Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort. NASA announced another delay for the Artemis 2 moon mission due to a newly discovered helium flow problem. And Canadians in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are sheltering in place as cartel violence escalates in the region.

The Lens: What Does This Mean?

Let's zoom out for a second.

If you're reading this list and feeling that familiar tightness in your chest, you're not alone. Weather disasters. Government gridlock. International threats. Security breaches. It's a lot.

But here's what Scripture reminds us: God is not caught off guard by any of this.

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come" (Mark 13:7). Jesus didn't say these things wouldn't happen. He said don't be alarmed when they do.

The Assemblies of God has always held firmly to the truth that Christ is coming back: and that changes everything about how we live today. We're not pessimists waiting for the world to collapse. We're not optimists pretending everything is fine. We're realists anchored in hope, called to be salt and light in the exact mess we're standing in.

The winter storm? It's disruptive, but it's not outside God's sovereignty. The political tension? He's seen administrations rise and fall for millennia. The international conflicts? He knows every leader, every weapon, every plan. And He's still on the throne.

Your peace doesn't come from good news. It comes from a good God.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you" (Isaiah 26:3).

Your Response: What Do You Do Now?

So what does a follower of Jesus do with today's news? Here are three simple, practical steps:

1. Pray Specifically

Don't just pray vague "bless everybody" prayers. Get specific. Pray for travelers stranded by the storm. Pray for TSA agents working overtime without PreCheck systems. Pray for wisdom for leaders navigating Iran tensions. Pray for the family of the Ukrainian officer killed in Lviv. Pray for protection over tourists in Puerto Vallarta.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one person or situation from today's news that He wants you to intercede for: then do it.

2. Check Your Heart

Are you anxious? Angry? Numb? Obsessed? Take an honest inventory. News consumption isn't neutral. It shapes your soul.

If reading headlines makes you more fearful than faithful, it's time to adjust. That doesn't mean ignorance: it means discernment. You can stay informed without staying anxious. Set boundaries. Limit doomscrolling. Replace 30 minutes of news with 10 minutes of worship and see what shifts.

3. Be a Neighbor

The best antidote to fear is love in action. If the storm is hitting your area, check on elderly neighbors. If someone you know is traveling this week, send a quick text of encouragement. If tensions are high in your circle, be the person who responds with grace instead of rage.

The world doesn't need more hot takes. It needs more people who look like Jesus in the middle of chaos.

A Word for the Weary

If today's news feels heavy, that's okay. You're not weak for feeling it.

But don't camp there. Don't let the weight of what you can't control crush the faithfulness you can live out.

Paul wrote some of his most hope-filled letters from a prison cell. David wrote worship songs while running from a murderous king. Esther stood before a hostile ruler with nothing but courage and prayer. Your circumstances don't dictate your peace: your God does.

Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341.

The Invitation

Here's your challenge for tonight: before you go to bed, write down one thing from today's news that stirred something in you: concern, anger, sadness, confusion. Then write down one truth from Scripture that speaks directly to it.

Storm? "He stills the storm to a whisper" (Psalm 107:29). Conflict? "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). Uncertainty? "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1).

This is how you stay grounded. This is how you keep peace when the world is spinning.

You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to know the One who does.

Follow at LayneMcDonald.com for calm updates as stories develop.

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Sources: ABC News, Washington Post, IPSOS, Reuters, AP, Department of Homeland Security, NASA