Peace seems to be a hard thing to come by these days. The world around us is in chaos...some of our own personal worlds are in chaos. The truth is...as christians we don't need to be. We can have peace if we just accept it. As a christian our peace comes from one source...GOD...the CREATOR of all things. HE is the CREATOR...HE is in charge. HE is the MASTER...the MAKER...the ONE that holds all of the world in HIS hands. Because HE loves us more than we can fathom GOD sent us HIS SON JESUS and HE is the PEACESPEAKER...
When the disciples were on their boat and the storm came up what did JESUS do? He simply said...Peace! Be still!...and the waves and the wind instantly were calm! How awesome would that be to have been there?! To have experienced that amazing...instantaneous...change in the weather?! From terrible storm to instant peace...calm and serene. WOW!!!
Well...you know...that's how it is in our life as believers in CHRIST when HE is our SAVIOR. Not only do we experience...as everyone does...instant chaos and turmoil...when suddenly we lose our job...a loved one gets sick...we experience illness...we lose someone...even just having to do something that for us is really hard...and the list can just go on and on. But the great thing is...if we know JESUS we also experience instant calm and peace. Why...how can that happen? Well...simply put...it's a perk. No...that's a word that you probably wouldn't use to describe it in most religious circles. The thing is...I'm not religious...I don't always use all the right words...this morning I'm just being real...the LORD gives HIS people perks!...HE blesses us. JESUS gives us peace when there seems to be no way in our minds that we can deal with our problem. The bible says...He gives us peace that passes all understanding.
Philippians 4:7 ESV
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As christians we should not have to live with anxious feelings and thoughts. We need to give everything that is wrong and bothering us over to the LORD. Pray about it and let it go. Amazingly enough...you can do this and it does work.
If we are trusting in CHRIST as our SAVIOR He will take care of us...no matter what we are going through or what we have to do. We can have peace because through HIM we can overcome anything...or any fear...that is trying to overtake us.
John 16:33 ESV
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
When we become Christians we become new...changed. Our lives change...our thoughts change...therefore we can trust that JESUS can deal with whatever is happening in our life...we don't have to be in turmoil over it. Old ways of thinking and feeling become new. Put off the fear and take on the peace...HIS peace for us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
I have found that the LORD is perfect in all that HE does. If HE says in HIS WORD that you can have peace through each and every circumstance in your life...you can. Is it always easy to get to that point? No...No...No...it's not. But when you finally decide to give it up to HIM...you will find that peace...HIS peace.
"until we see JESUS...face to face"
I am working on this very thing now. After making so much progress with the anxiety/agoraphobia, and then I had that last scary attack.....and now I will get those thoughts, the memory of what happened the last time, and then the fear sets in... (what if it happens again?!...) That's when I need to remember how important it is to take every thought captive...to not give into the voice of the enemy and allow the fear to rule over the situation! The Lord is helping me to push through...but it is on a day by day basis.
ReplyDeleteI always find encouragement whenever I read through your blog, Chelle...I know you have struggled with so many things yourself, but you have hung onto the Lord and His promises through it all!
Blessings and love~Lisa
You are soooo right, Chelle...It is not easy, not easy at all, my friend! But then I will read the scripture that says: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Which I happen to have hanging in two rooms of the house...one being next to the bathroom mirror) and then I am filled with courage to push ahead once more! This is from God, and we should know to always trust what God tells us in His Word!