Tag: Finding peace

HOW NOT TO BE TROUBLED

What keeps you awake at night, sweating up the bed sheets, tossing and turning and never getting a good night’s sleep?

What are you worried about? What keeps you awake at night, sweating up the bed sheets, tossing and turning and never getting a good night’s sleep? I know for one person it was the election. My wife was worried about who was going to be her next Commander and Chief.

Maybe for you, it is your job, making a blunder and then getting that infamous “pink slip”.

For me, it’s worrying about whether I got my last devotional written on time. Will it be acceptable?  Are all the verb tenses agree? Is this be the last devotional I’ll ever be allowed to write?  (Just because I’m married to the Editor, doesn’t mean it always goes well….)  

DOES JESUS DESERT US?

But the disciples of Jesus day had other things to worry about. John 14:1-7 begins with “Let not your heart be troubled”. Troubled? Why would they be troubled? Just go back to the previous chapter and read John 13:33: “My little children, I will be with you only a little longer”. What does that mean? Is Jesus taking off, is He deserting us?

IN THE MIDST OF BETRAYAL, HE WILL LEAVE

And if that isn’t upsetting enough, read John 13:21: “Jesus already told them: ‘After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me’”. What?! First, he breaks the news that someone in their midst was going to betray Him and then he tells them that He will be leaving. What’s going on Jesus?

REASSURANCE FROM THE CREATOR

Jesus brings reassurance to his disciples by telling them the truth about Himself:

  1. He tells them that He and the Father are one. This should have been nothing new to the disciples since He proclaimed it in John 10:30, “The Father and I are one”.
  2. “No, I am not leaving you forever. As a matter of fact, I am going ahead of you, and I will be getting the place ready”.
  3. Thomas says they don’t know where this place is or how to get there. Jesus says to Thomas, put your GPS away because you won’t need it. “Remember, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the father except through me”. So, if you want to get to the father, you have to go through Me.

WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE

We find ourselves in various situations all the time, some may be small and incidental, or they may be major times of doubt and distrust in our lives.  What can we do when we reach that point? We can remember the words of Jesus. Trust the truth. Go back and read those words over and over again. John 14 is a good place to start.

Click to listen to the story of Hayden Jernigan

Bill Stoner, the author of this piece, is the wonderful husband of Jacqui. He is a retired pastor and a man who has weathered many storms. Bill has found God is faithful.

LIFE IN THE CELL

For years I have traveled the route of multiple eye surgeries and double vision. Surely my newest eye challenge was an easy fix. Needless to say, I was shaken when my eye specialist said, “I think you have the beginnings of glaucoma in your right eye.” Doesn’t God know that I need my vision?

Doesn’t God Know Joseph Deserves a Good Life?

Then I remembered the saga of Joseph in Genesis 40. Ten years of tragedy, hope, betrayal, and pain. Sold into slavery and eventually given an important job over the house of Potiphar. Despite an excellent work history, Joseph lands in prison, wrongfully imprisoned for the attempted rape of Mrs. Potiphar. What does Joseph do? Does he become obsessed with the unjustness of what has happened to him and plot to overthrow the Egyptian government (or at least draw graffiti on the prison wall)? Does he spend day and night, groaning and moaning, cursing his fate? Or does he choose to give up and resign to fatalism, assuming that God only has plans to harm him. Doesn’t God know Joseph deserves a good life?

Joseph’s Choice In The Pain

Surprisingly, Joseph keeps his heart and trust in God. Does prison hurt? Of course. Every day he clearly remembers, “ I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for which they should put me in the dungeon.”The pain is still there, but Joseph chooses not to let his heart reside in self-pity, even in the cell.

The Cupbearer and The Baker

How do we know? While in prison, “the captain of the guard put Joseph in charge of them, (the Cupbearer and Baker) and he served them; and they continued to be in custody for some time.” Instead of obsessing over his own situation, Joseph engages the two in conversation. Joseph chooses not to ignore the suffering of others.

The Cupbearer and Baker experience deeply disturbing dreams. Joseph takes the time to not only listen to them, but also to listen to God. To the Cupbearer, Joseph gives good news: he will be released by Pharoah. Sadly, for the Baker, there is tragic news: he will be executed.

The Cupbearer ecstatically accepts Joseph’s interpretation of his dream. He swears to Joseph that when he comes to freedom, he will help Joseph. All goes according to plan, except the Cupbearer, for whatever reason, never mentions Joseph to Pharoah. Joseph does the right thing, the honorable thing and what does it get him? From his vantage point = nothing. Nada….

Where Do We Get The Idea The Christian Life Is A Bargain?

There is an unpopular truth about God. God always plays the long game. He sees into eternity and plans accordingly. Alistar Begg writes: “Think of the life of Jesus. John chapter 19, Jesus in Pilate’s Hall and the painful interrogation with Pilate. Where do we get this idea that service for Christ is an insurance policy against trial and pain and persecution? Do we find that we have the right to go to bed angry because we lost our job or because our health is failing or because everything has not worked out? Where do we get this idea that the Christian life is a bargain—you know, “I do something good for you, God, and then you do a couple of good things for me, and I don’t expect You to let your side of the bargain down”?

God Is With You In The Prison Cell

“I don’t want you to be surprised at the fiery trial that is coming upon you.” (I Peter 4:12). Whatever your trial, whether it is floundering eyesight or something as grave as Joseph’s plight, if you are God’s, He is with you, every moment, whether you feel it or not. God plays the long game.  God is there, even in your prison cell.

Click to hear Hannah Overton’s prison experience

TETHERED TO GOD – WOLVES AT THE DOOR

If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will come alongside of you before the Throne of God. That composes a portion of the beautiful picture of being tethered to God.

At the beginning of WWII, King Edward of England was forced to abdicate the throne. The public reason being his refusal to give up the love of his life (she was not queenly material). There was a greater reason Edward could not remain on the throne. England was fighting for its existence as a free country. However, Edward greatly admired Hitler and made visits to Nazi Germany.  Like the false teachers in Jude, Edward “found fault, followed after his own lusts, and always spoke arrogantly.” If he had remained on the throne, the outcome of England from WWII would have been disastrous. Edward was tethered to Hitler.

GRUMBLING FALSE TEACHERS

Jude addresses influential false teachers who are dangerous. Described as “grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage” (Jude 1:16). Charles Spurgeon observed: “Nothing ever satisfies them. They are discontented even with the gospel. The bread of heaven must be cut into three pieces, and served on dainty napkins, or else they cannot eat it; and very soon their soul hates even this light bread. They pick holes in every preacher’s coat; and if the great High Priest himself were here, they would find fault with the color of the stones of his breastplate.”  These teachers are not tethered to Christ.

GOD’S GAME PLAN

What does a believer do when in danger of being influenced by such influencers? God provides a game plan. We are not to get lost in the craziness. God promises to take care of the situation. Stay tethered to God.

HOW TO PRAY

I once had pneumonia. The only way I could breathe was by sitting up, which is terrifying. My life depended on following the doctor’s instructions implicitly. Our spiritual lives depend on implicitly following the mandates in Jude 1:17-25. The first instruction is prayer. Don’t say, “I don’t know how to pray.” God already gives an answer for that excuse. “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26). If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will come alongside of you before the Throne of God. That composes a portion of the beautiful picture of being tethered to God.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE LED ASTRAY

But what are we to do about those influenced by those wolves, the false teachers? By being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can know when we should comfort and when we should rebuke. Never are we commanded to hate them or to be unconcerned for their salvation. The key is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and our own vulnerability to be led astray. We can choose Who we are tethered to.

CONNECTED TO GOD

David Guzik writes: “In mountain climbing, the beginning hiker attaches himself to the expert so that if he loses his footing he won’t stumble and fall to his death. In the same manner, if we keep connected with God, we cannot fall. He keeps us safe.” Tightly tethered to God means rigorously continuing to pray, vigorously reading and meditating on His Word, and choosing obedience to God, regardless of the consequences.

FINDING SOLACE AND PEACE

A tethered person finds solace and peace in Jude’s doxology: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Remain tethered to God!

For further inspiration, listen to the testimony of Megan Donahue  

HERE AM I, DO YOU WANT TO SEND ME?

I have tasks which overwhelm me, but are they in the Father’s plan? I worry and fret over my inadequacies.

Day 25 and so 25 items exit my life. Some of them go to the trash heap. How many plastic mats advertising businesses does one need? Other items are tools that may be invaluable to strangers. So, to the donation site they go. My apartment only has limited space. How did I accumulate so many items?

In the same way, I only have limited space in my heart and mind. What’s taking up all this mental real estate? I have tasks which overwhelm me, but are they in the Father’s plan? I worry and fret over my inadequacies. Finding peace is challenging.

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. God gives many opportunities, but am I really obeying Him when I say “yes”? There are more qualified people. What did I get into when I said, “Here am I, send me”?

Indeed, He sent me. I look at what God is doing. All those conversations which bless both me and the other person. The work of the Holy Spirit displayed in lives I see being changed. I said, “Here am I, send me.” God is filling my life with opportunities that are not to be discarded.

My apartment is emptying out, but my soul is full and overflowing with the graciousness of God. I am not the wisest, the most intelligent, or the most gifted. However, I continue to say, “Here am I, send me.”

Listen to the story of Rebecca Stanley 

PEACE BE STILL

Life can be uncertain, scary and confusing. Drowning in the heaviness of circumstances, we have the choice to reach out and cry, “Lord, save me!”

A great distance from land, the boat appears as a mere speck in the horizon. The wind whips the waves higher and higher. Accounts in Matthew 24 and Mark 4 describe the terror of the disciples in the midst of two different storms.  In the Gospel of Matthew, they see in the distance a figure. Is that actually a person walking across the water? The men cry out in fear. Then they hear the voice. It belongs to the One they love: Jesus. “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Amidst the surf, Jesus calls across to Peter, “Come!” Slowly Peter raises one foot over the side of the boat. Suddenly he finds himself actually standing on water. Despite being soaking wet, Peter makes his way toward the Savior.

Then comes that monster wave. It almost knocks Peter over. Startled, Peter wonders what in the world he is doing, attempting to walk across the Sea of Galilee. Fear fills his soul. Peter stops looking at Jesus and takes in the reality of his circumstances. Doubts flood his heart. The seas grab his attention. Peter begins to sink. Before he totally goes under, in terror he screams, “Lord save me!” Jesus reaches out and pulls Peter up from the waters.

Sadly, shaking His head, Jesus cries, “Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?” From Peter’s very first step, Jesus knew what a difficult test this would be. It pushed self-confident Peter beyond all his human abilities.

God does His best work when we come to the same realization as Peter: we cannot save ourselves. Notice the progression. Peter had to make that first step of faith out of the boat before his faith, or lack thereof, could be revealed.

Life can be uncertain, scary and confusing. Drowning in the heaviness of circumstances, we have the choice to reach out and cry, “Lord, save me!” Not until we invite the Savior does Jesus enter and make our twisted ways straight. Jesus does not tell us to hide away from the storms in the bottom of a boat. He tells us to get out of the boat and walk toward Him, regardless of our crisis. Only after that initial step does our Savior then whisper, “Peace be still.”

Click for further info on what Jesus means by “Peace be still”

PEACE BE STILL

God does His best work when we come to the same realization as Peter: we cannot save ourselves.

A great distance from land, the boat is merely be a speck in the horizon. The wind whips the waves higher and higher. The disciples are terrified when they see in the distance a figure. Is that actually a person walking across the water? The men cry out in fear. Then they hear the voice. It belongs to the One they love: Jesus. “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Amidst the surf, Jesus calls across to Peter, “Come!” Slowly Peter raises one foot over the side of the boat. Suddenly he finds himself actually standing on water. Despite being soaking wet, Peter makes his way toward the Savior.

Then comes that monster wave. It almost knocks Peter over. Startled Peter wonders what in the world he is doing, attempting to walk across the Sea of Galilee. Fear fills his soul. Peter stops looking at Jesus and takes in the reality of his circumstances. Doubts flood his heart. The seas grab his attention. Peter begins to sink. Before he totally goes under, in terror he cries, “Lord save me!” Jesus reaches out and pulls Peter up from the waters.

Sadly, shaking His head, Jesus cries, “Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

From Peter’s very first step, Jesus knew what a difficult test this would be. It pushed self-confident Peter beyond all human skills. Peter had to realize he could not save himself. God does His best work when we come to the same realization as Peter: we cannot save ourselves.

When we are pushed beyond our abilities and understand we have no power of our own to save ourselves. Drowning in the heaviness of life, we reach out and cry, “Lord, save me!” It’s not until we invite the Savior, does Jesus enter and make our twisted ways straight. The Savior then whispers, “Peace be still.”

Click for further info on what Jesus means by “Peace be still”