As I shared with you last week, I came across a book several years ago entitled, 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 from it will help your search to have peace no matter what chaos is swirling around you.
One of Mr. Lange’s statements that jumped out at me was this:
“Peace is something provided to us by God (which we need to both seek and receive) that enables us to have tranquility, or be okay on the inside, regardless of our circumstances.”
While I know in my mind that these words are true, it seems like it is much harder to “live out” than it is to just agree with it. I know that God does provide peace for us, but where I struggle is accepting His peace when I am in a place in my life where I don’t want to be.
As I wrote last week, His peace is always there but it is our choice whether we are going to accept it or not. It’s easy to choose peace when life is running smoothly and all of our ducks are in a row. But when we are thrown a curve ball and we are suddenly on a detour that we didn’t plan, it seems to be so much harder to choose His peace. As I was contemplating as to why I struggle with this, the author hit me between the eyes with these words:
“Peace isn’t stolen from us – we choose to give it up when we refuse to give up control or when we take our eyes off Jesus.”
Refusing to give up control. Ouch. That hurt. Anyone that knows me would probably agree that I can easily be a control freak. I’m pretty particular and I like things to be done and go in the way I think they should happen. So, when things in my life go haywire, I often tend to just tighten my grip on what is swirling around me. As I read, I realized that when I do that, I am refusing to give up control because I think I can handle things better. It is at those times when I am taking my eyes off of Jesus and putting them on myself, and nothing good ever comes from doing that.
Tomorrow our country will have a very contentious election…someone is going to win…and someone is going to lose. Where we have our focus will determine our reaction, especially if our candidates don’t find themselves in the winning circle. No matter who ends up with the most votes…God will still be on the Throne…and it is in Him that we need to put our trust.
Mr. Lange then summed it up with this one powerful statement:
“Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because
I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”
This is so true. If I can fully comprehend this truth and remember it every time I feel my stomach going into knots, hopefully I will stop wherever I am and whatever I am doing and choose His peace. It’s always there for me…always available…but it’s up to me to put my eyes on my Jesus and accept the peace He is offering.
How about you? Are you living in chaos right now? If so, whom or what has your focus? If it isn’t your Jesus…I doubt you have peace and you need to remember, just like I do, that you are making the choice not to have it. It’s always there for you…always available…but you have to be willing to turn your eyes on Him and choose to have the peace He so longs to give you!
"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:8
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