Peace can come to us in many ways, but these 3 Steps to Peace can help us navigate the storms of life.
** And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. ** Colossians 3:13
We have all learned over time that being at peace has to be chosen and is an not automatic response to life’s problems
Years ago, I struggled to keep my emotions in check. Every day they overwhelmed me.
Fear
Worry
Anger
Frustration
Stress
I felt like I was drowning far out at sea with no land in sight.
I suppose that the way I felt was how the disciples felt when the wind and storm rose up and they feared for their lives in Luke 8, even though Jesus was right there with them. They knew exactly where He was and yet the storm in their life, their circumstances, overwhelmed their faith and their reality.
Step #1 to Peace is Faith
** And let the peace of God RULE **
I think we all have times when our emotions are doing the ruling instead of facing our storms with the eyes of faith. Instead of stepping back and allowing God’s peace to rule over our storm, we try to just keep bailing water and fighting against the wind. We fight the storms with our eyes and our efforts. Didn’t the disciples also fight and fight against the storm until they FINALLY went to Jesus in their desperation and begged Him to help?
And what did Jesus do?
He RULED over the storm. He RULED over the wind. He RULED over their circumstances and brought peace back into their lives. With just a couple of words. His Words. Words that are the building blocks of our faith. When we learn to believe that the Lord truly RULES over every problem that can come up in our life, our faith will guide us through the storms.
As the disciples, so are we. As they are human, so are we. As they had to learn the hard way how to lean on Jesus in their problems, so do we.
STEP #2 is COMMUNION WITH CHRIST
It seems that the disciples struggled to understand that they had the opportunity to work in tandem with the Lord. To be one with Christ. They seemed to struggle to grasp that Jesus WANTED to work side-by-side with them. He WANTED to walk every step, teach in every moment, and soothe their pain in every trial. He wanted to discuss every detail. Being with Jesus wasn’t supposed to be just an observation. It wasn’t supposed to be to just stand back and be in awe and confusion over why He was able to do what He did. And He certainly didn’t want to be their last resort! It was supposed to be a conversation and a lifestyle.
But isn’t that the way we face storms as well? Don’t we try to figure our problems out on our own? Don’t we react instead of running to God?
I can testify that, yes, that is totally me. If trouble comes, I panic first and think later. But over the years, I have learned to stop for a few seconds and pray. My emotions are still running amok, but I have learned to tune in and beg the Lord to help me see the way He sees, and to respond the way He would have me to respond.
Every time I get it right, a miracle happens and I am in shock that the Lord would do something so quickly. Just like the disciples were.
STEP #3 is THANKFULNESS
** and be ye thankful. **
Thankfulness.
The power of a thankful heart can calm the storms.
The first clue that I have that I have left thankfulness is when I am whining and/or complaining about someone or something. I am allowing my emotions to guide my words and thoughts and responses to life. But when I start to thank the Lord for my life, my health, my problems, my pain, my discouragement, there is another miraculous moment. The Lord changes my emotions to peace and joy. I can accept my situation and walk by faith and communion again. My problems are not necessarily solved but my outlook has been transformed. I remember that the Lord RULES over every storm and He can stop the storm any time He wants.
We can all step into peace today. Right now. Peace in the midst of whatever storm we are currently drowning in. We can call out to Jesus to calm the storm and we can thank Him for allowing us to be in the storm WITH Him. We can remember that Jesus always RULES over every problem we have and we can talk to Him about all of it and know that He is listening.
He is not absent. He has not lost control. His ears are not deaf to our need.
The Lord DOES have the answer, even if the answer is to TRUST Him and wait patiently for the storm to calm again. He knows what He is doing, in our world and in our hearts.
** And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. ** Colossians 3:13
Fear
Worry
Anger
Frustration
Stress
I STRUGGLE EVERY DAY, I FEEL LIKE i AM FAILING HIM, ONE MINUTE I AM WITH HIM AND STRONG AND CALM, AND THE NEXT MINUTE, i LOSE HIM, i DONT KNOW HOW TO CONTINUE TO KEEP HIM IN MY THOUGHTS AT ALL TIMES.
Nancy’s work email
I just loved this post, I read it again ALOUD with a contrite heart, thank you Susan for the reminders everyday, you have no idea how much this helps me, GOd is there waiting, and you keep reminding me, many blessings to you, and hope all the readers find the light in their days like I do when I read these daily in my work email!!!! I also get them in my gmail so I dont miss any posts on the weekends!!
Nancy, I feel your frustration and pain. Many of us have struggled to settle into our walk with the Lord. We tend to run ahead, behind and every which way instead of calmly following Him and letting Him lead us. There is a verse in 1 Peter 5 that says ** But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. ** The Lord allows problems and heartaches in our lives so that we WILL learn more about Him. We do not grow as well when everything is easy. Storms force us to push our roots deeper into Him so we do not blow away in the wind. Clouds and rain urge us to reach our arms out searching for the sun (Son) to warm us and protect us. Thunder and lightning terrifies us and makes us want to run and hide, but it is there to show us the Lord’s power to give and take life. It teaches us the fear of the Lord and respect for what He could do. Storms are good for us. They make us stronger and they grow our faith. Be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time. He does not expect more from you than you can give. Just try to stay close to Him today. And then start again tomorrow. His mercies are new EVERY morning. Rest in His mercy and rejoice in His love for you!
You just blew me away again! What a beautiful way to look at the troubles in our lives as refining us and reaching out to him. If our lives were easy, we wouldn’t feel the need for Him as much. And what a beautiful analogy. I love this reply as much as I did the post. Your words just took a big weight off after a very heavy toiling work day. God bless you.
Keep hanging in there Nancy! One day soon you will be able to look back on this season of your life and see how much you have grown in your faith and how much more sure your walk with the Lord has become. He is so proud of you for sticking with your faith even as you struggle. Many hugs to you!!!
Hugging you back sweet cousin!
Muchos besos!! (many kisses back to you!!)
🙂