I have a little poster in my home that says something like, “Peace is not found in the absence of chaos or suffering, but in the Presence of the Lord.” Living in a place as lovely as Smith Mountain Lake can bring a great deal of enjoyment to our lives, but only God can bring peace.
In the world of today, it seems we constantly hear of floods, hurricanes, death, water shortages, fighting, earthquakes, and many other fearful occurrences.
People talk about the end times, recession, depression, financial struggles, global warming, etc. And of course, we know such things are not figments of the imagination, and so they often steal our joy.
Must we either hide our heads in the sand to have peace in an uncertain world or else be fearful and gloomy? I don’t believe that for a second. We can face life with complete honesty about all that is happening, and things likely to happen, and still have a peace that is beyond human understanding.
Meditating daily on life-changing truths is a part of becoming a person who is not annihilated by the terrors and storms of life. Some of those truths that keep my heart at peace in an ever-changing world are:
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalms 56:3,4
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b,6
The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident. Psalms 27:1,3
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…if God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39