"The Christian life is one of joy and peace."
Those words stopped me in my tracks as I read them this morning.
I've been reading this devotional, "Battlefield of the Mind", for 11 days, and out of everything I've read so far, this simple statement was enough to give me serious pause. Given the insurmountable tragedy that the Berea community has faced this week, it's not surprising that many people I know are struggling to find joy and peace.
Two Berea College students lost their lives in a car accident this past weekend, and the remaining two who survived have unimaginably difficult recoveries ahead. And just a few days before that, a recent Berea graduate was also involved in a serious accident. I don't know her well, but I know many who do, and she is a bright, bright light for the Lord. Her life hangs in the balance and her future is uncertain, but she is being lifted up in prayer by so many and I believe that our God is faithful. More than that I believe that our God heals and restores.
So yeah...In times like these, joy and peace are hard to find. Joy and peace seem so, so far away; unreachable, unattainable.
Yet, terrible tragedies aside, I think that humans are sometimes some of the most unjoyful and peaceless beings I've ever seen. We slam our peers and perfect strangers on social media, hell bent on making sure OUR opinions are out there without any regard to anyone else. We pursue substances, relationships, addictions, and habits that promise pleasure but leave us feeling empty and worthless. We complain and gripe about traffic, our children, our spouses, our co-workers, the long line at Starbucks, and how we look. We put in 50-60 hours a week at our jobs, sometimes more, neglecting the sanctity of family time, just so we can "provide better". We post selfie after selfie because we thrive on the likes and comments we receive. We suffer through marriages that are falling apart because we're too prideful to admit that we need help, and we're certainly not as bad off as "the other guys". We hold onto grudges and bitterness like our lives depend on it. We're in a constant state of dissatisfaction, caught in traps of comparison, restless and longing for more, better, bigger, faster, stronger, healthier, prettier, more together...better!
And these scenarios are taking place among the same people we worship with and fellowship with in Christ during the week. What's going on?
Like it or not, the world is watching, and I think our witness is seriously jeopardized and called into question when we're lashing out at our children in the grocery store, arguing on Facebook, constantly complaining, and so on. Our witness is jeopardized when we're not at peace with our fellow brothers and sisters over unresolved conflict and unwillingness to forgive. Our witness is jeopardized when we're caught up in "I wish I had..." instead of "I'm ok with what I have."
Friends, I struggle with this. I let my mind wander to dark places of feeling less than and not good enough and sometimes I'm quick to heap on the mental judgment instead of offering the benefit of the doubt. I get stuck in comparison traps, too. Social media is especially bad for that, but I'm trying to remember that often times I'm not seeing the whole picture. I get frustrated with my circumstances, I get restless, I complain.
So what do we do about it?
For me, spending time in prayer and the Word. I've really grasped just this year how important both of those things are for my walk, and I do sometimes "feel it" if I forget to pray. God does provide "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7), and it's amazing how instantly it comes to me when I take the time to stop. Something I also do is practice gratitude. I try to thank God for what I have and for His faithfulness. I say thank you and I say it often. I try not to linger on the "what if" and instead focus on the "what is" that's in front of me. And I try. And I fail. But I keep trying. That's the thing- You have to keep trying. God will meet you there every single time.
Last but most certainly not least, please keep praying for the young lady I mentioned above. She needs a miracle and her family needs peace and comfort in this time**.
The world is watching. Let's allow God to wreck our hearts and increase our capacity of joy and peace. I believe there's no time like now and I believe God is able and willing, if we simply ask and receive.
**Her church in Berea, River of Life Foursquare, has set up a benevolence fund in her honor to help her family offset her medical expenses. Please give if you feel led to: http://www.bereafoursquare.com/Brianna
I've been reading this devotional, "Battlefield of the Mind", for 11 days, and out of everything I've read so far, this simple statement was enough to give me serious pause. Given the insurmountable tragedy that the Berea community has faced this week, it's not surprising that many people I know are struggling to find joy and peace.
Two Berea College students lost their lives in a car accident this past weekend, and the remaining two who survived have unimaginably difficult recoveries ahead. And just a few days before that, a recent Berea graduate was also involved in a serious accident. I don't know her well, but I know many who do, and she is a bright, bright light for the Lord. Her life hangs in the balance and her future is uncertain, but she is being lifted up in prayer by so many and I believe that our God is faithful. More than that I believe that our God heals and restores.
So yeah...In times like these, joy and peace are hard to find. Joy and peace seem so, so far away; unreachable, unattainable.
Yet, terrible tragedies aside, I think that humans are sometimes some of the most unjoyful and peaceless beings I've ever seen. We slam our peers and perfect strangers on social media, hell bent on making sure OUR opinions are out there without any regard to anyone else. We pursue substances, relationships, addictions, and habits that promise pleasure but leave us feeling empty and worthless. We complain and gripe about traffic, our children, our spouses, our co-workers, the long line at Starbucks, and how we look. We put in 50-60 hours a week at our jobs, sometimes more, neglecting the sanctity of family time, just so we can "provide better". We post selfie after selfie because we thrive on the likes and comments we receive. We suffer through marriages that are falling apart because we're too prideful to admit that we need help, and we're certainly not as bad off as "the other guys". We hold onto grudges and bitterness like our lives depend on it. We're in a constant state of dissatisfaction, caught in traps of comparison, restless and longing for more, better, bigger, faster, stronger, healthier, prettier, more together...better!
And these scenarios are taking place among the same people we worship with and fellowship with in Christ during the week. What's going on?
Like it or not, the world is watching, and I think our witness is seriously jeopardized and called into question when we're lashing out at our children in the grocery store, arguing on Facebook, constantly complaining, and so on. Our witness is jeopardized when we're not at peace with our fellow brothers and sisters over unresolved conflict and unwillingness to forgive. Our witness is jeopardized when we're caught up in "I wish I had..." instead of "I'm ok with what I have."
Friends, I struggle with this. I let my mind wander to dark places of feeling less than and not good enough and sometimes I'm quick to heap on the mental judgment instead of offering the benefit of the doubt. I get stuck in comparison traps, too. Social media is especially bad for that, but I'm trying to remember that often times I'm not seeing the whole picture. I get frustrated with my circumstances, I get restless, I complain.
So what do we do about it?
For me, spending time in prayer and the Word. I've really grasped just this year how important both of those things are for my walk, and I do sometimes "feel it" if I forget to pray. God does provide "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7), and it's amazing how instantly it comes to me when I take the time to stop. Something I also do is practice gratitude. I try to thank God for what I have and for His faithfulness. I say thank you and I say it often. I try not to linger on the "what if" and instead focus on the "what is" that's in front of me. And I try. And I fail. But I keep trying. That's the thing- You have to keep trying. God will meet you there every single time.
Last but most certainly not least, please keep praying for the young lady I mentioned above. She needs a miracle and her family needs peace and comfort in this time**.
The world is watching. Let's allow God to wreck our hearts and increase our capacity of joy and peace. I believe there's no time like now and I believe God is able and willing, if we simply ask and receive.
**Her church in Berea, River of Life Foursquare, has set up a benevolence fund in her honor to help her family offset her medical expenses. Please give if you feel led to: http://www.bereafoursquare.com/Brianna
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