Is peace really possible today?
Today many Christians and non Christians alike are dealing with anxiety. We have always lived in world full of turmoil, however for many of us, we haven’t had to face it head on. Unfortunately, Covid19 has changed that reality for many of us. For the Christ followers there is an even a larger question… Here I am, a fully devoted follower of Christ, responding to life pretty much like everyone else. Many of us are living in fear and worry, yet I know it shouldn’t be that way! Consistently I read in the Word of God not to be afraid and to be anxious for nothing. Yet at times that sounds impossible!
God has a lot to say in the Bible about fear and its antidote: peace. In one instance, Jesus and His disciples were on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when a furious storm threatened to sink them. They all fought to keep afloat, and what was Jesus doing? He was sound asleep! Right in the middle of the storm.
The disciples asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus got up and rebuked the storm, and it went completely calm. Then He asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40 NIV
That pretty much sums up the conversations I’m having with God. I can feel Him asking me why I’m anxious, and I’m answering, Isn’t it obvious? Look at our circumstances! Who wouldn’t or couldn’t we be afraid?
In my quest for peace, several things became crystal clear.
- Our circumstances are determining our level of peace. If life’s circumstances were all good, then we are at peace. If storms were encircling us, we become stressed, anxious, and tired all at the same time—exhausted from our emotions. We are just like the disciples in the storm. We are fearful of the storm, hurt, and confused because we thought God didn’t care. But Jesus brought us to my next point.
- Jesus is trying to teach us peace is possible, no matter the storm. Are you relating to this battle? It’s not easy, is it? I was still struggling to understand how Jesus could expect me to experience peace in the storm, wondering if He truly even cared, when I realized my next breakthrough point.
- Our storms revealed our level of trust. Peace doesn’t mean everything is going right in your life. It means being at peace when storms are shaking your life. I hadn’t learned to trust God and find peace even in those storms. Have you hit that wall yet?
It’s obvious we have some room to grow. But I’m learning that the path to peace is found by trusting and fixing our thoughts on the One who is never unsettled by storms. It won’t happen overnight, but little by little, more peace and rest will rejuvenate our tired, weary souls.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 4:35-41 KJV
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 KJV
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
No comments:
Post a Comment