We Don't See Everything Coming Our Way
Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash
God Provides Peace When The World Cannot
by Eric Elkin
“All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. ”
Please take a moment and think about your current situation. How is it with your brain? Are the thoughts running through your head calming, anxious, joyful, fearful? Think about the people in your life, those closest to you. Are things well with them? Or, do you find yourself worrying about their life and future? Where is your heart spiritually? Measure your state of being on an invisible scale, with being overly anxious at 1 and entirely at peace at 10. What numerical score would you give yourself today?
As a pastor, most of my conversations are with people struggling to cope with some level of anxiety. Few people seek out a pastor when all things are well and at peace. So, my view of people in the culture is somewhat slighted to the anxious side of the scale. However, statistics support a significant portion of the population is struggling with fear about the future.
Over the past week and a half, there have been a couple of nasty car accidents on Lexington Ave in Eagan, MN. The street where my church is located. It is a busy street with pedestrians and cars crossing the primary traffic flow. Actually, it is surprising that there are not more accidents. But when an accident does occur, it is usually a bad one.
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”
I drive on Lexington Ave at least six days a week, often making several trips a day on it. Rarely am I concerned or worried about hitting another car while I drive. Although one could rightly argue, the odds are high that I will. The odds are equally high that if I were to get in an accident, it would result in some life-changing damage, either physical or financial.
The worries that typically consume me when I drive do not possess the power to hurt me the way a car accident would. Ironically, obsessing over problems that cannot destroy me makes me more vulnerable to the issues that can. The negative thoughts in my head distract me from paying complete attention on the road.
The older I get, the more I find myself depending upon God for my peace and safety. That may seem like an odd statement for a pastor to make, but it is true. When I was younger, my thoughts revolved around doing the will of God. This usually meant I was exploring ways to serve, give, and love. Most of the profound moments of joy in my life came from faithfully doing the will of God. Yet, doing the will of God does not protect you from the car accidents in your life.
Car accidents remind us how vulnerable we are to being hurt. They remind us we don't see everything coming our way. Yet, there is "peace and security," knowing I am resting in the loving arms of the one who formed me, whose living Spirit is written into every breath I take, and whose forgiveness lifts me up when I feel broken. I find peace when I read, "We don't belong to the night or darkness." I need to focus on that when my mind tilts toward the worry side of the scale because God gives me peace when the world cannot.
Click to read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Reflection Questions:
Where are you on the scale of 1 to 10?
How much real harm can come from the things you worry about? Or, are you manufacturing the possible harms?
What words help you find peace?
How much do you depend on God or are you still trying to do God’s will?
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