We are in our third
week of looking at having peace no matter what chaos is swirling around
us. I began thinking about this in a
more in depth manner as I read the book, Calming
The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World by Jim Lange. This book spoke to me in so many ways, and I
hope something I share with you from it will help your search to have peace no
matter what chaos is swirling around you.
The first week we
learned from Mr. Lange’s statement, “Chaos
is a part of life that cannot be avoided.
We need to actually embrace the chaos because God allows it for our own
good.” Last week we looked at his
words, “Any lack of peace that I
experience is simply because I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on
Jesus.”
This week I want to
look at what often keeps us from embracing the chaos and focusing on
Jesus. From what I have observed, many
people lack peace because of one central question that they keep asking as they
are experiencing hard times. Over and
over again, many keep asking, “Why is
this happening to me?” Of course the
question becomes personalized depending on the current type of turmoil. “Why am
I having to suffer physically?”
Why am I stuck in this lousy job, where no one recognizes my
potential?” “Why do I have a
spouse and/or child who doesn’t love me the way I think I should
be loved?” And I could go on and on.
Mr Lange addressed
this in his book. He said he has also
observed this in others who have faced major difficulties in their lives. He said that some of them acted as if their
lives were over. They fretted and
complained about the horrible hand that was dealt to them. In other words, they were super focused on
what was happening TO them, which kept them stuck in the muck and mire.
He went on to say that
he had also observed some who seemed to be blessed in the midst of their
difficult circumstances. With these
people, their tough situations proved to be the catalyst for something great in
their lives. He said, “The one thing in common with each of the
people in this group was that, at some point along the way, their thinking
changed. They shifted from thoughts of
Why is the happening TO me? To What is God doing FOR me? They each recognized that God was working on
their behalf, even though in the natural it didn’t seem like it at all. They became dead to themselves in their
circumstances. Some of these, probably
the more spiritually mature, went to this place quickly in the midst of their
trial. Others may have taken a bit
longer. But, they each got there and God
was able to turn their lemons into lemonade.”
I think many of us
would have a lot more peace if instead of immediately asking, Why me? We would ask Why NOT me? Why in the world should we be free of trials
and chaos in our lives? We read in John
16:33, “I have told you all this so that
you may have peace in me. Here on earth
you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have over come the world.” Christ told us that we would have difficult
situations in our lives but He also told us that we should have peace. Why?
Because He is greater than anything this world can throw at us!
So instead of
fretting, fuming, whining and feeling sorry for ourselves, what if we looked at
our current situation and thanked the Lord for it. What if we realized that He has us in our
current surroundings for a reason and that through our chaos, He will be able
to change us and mold us to look more like Him.
What if we asked Him to reveal what He is trying to teach us and then
ask Him to help us act appropriately to His plan. I’m guessing if we did this, we just might
have more peace.
Today marks five weeks
since my surgery and I’m still at home recovering. I’m stronger than I was after surgery, but I
still have a long way to go. To be
honest, I am a work in progress in thanking the Lord for my current
circumstances. Some days I feel like I’m
pretty successful at it and others days I’ve failed miserably. But He has been showing me these past few
days the positives of this time at home and He has been speaking to me in
gentle whispers. I am feeling His
presence like I haven’t felt in a very long time. Maybe, just maybe, this time of stillness has
been so that I could feel His breath in my ears and His Spirit in my soul.
Are you asking “Why
me?” today? I want to urge you to change
that question to “Why NOT me” and then try thanking the Lord for what you are
experiencing. Ask Him then to reveal to
you His plan in gentle whispers. I
believe you will begin to feel peace as His presence is felt in a powerful way
and His Spirit fills your soul. Give it
a try. What do you have to lose?
By the way, I just
want to remind you that my 10% off + free shipping sale of my 90 day
devotional, Ask Me About My Jesus, ends tomorrow! If you would like to take advantage of this
sale and have an autographed copy sent to you, e-mail me at luannfulton@gmail.com
and let me know your address and how many books you would like. Many have been purchasing multiple books as
Christmas gifts and I have even autographed each of their books to specific
people. Cost of the book is $15.35
($14.35 + $1.00 tax) and payment can be made by cash, check or PayPal (please
choose Friends & Family option).
As I’ve shared before,
my prayer has been that this book will have an impact on eternity. Time is of the essence, and it is time we let
others know how much our Jesus means to us!
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