A moment for reflection: God's Peace by Morag Cameron ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.” Psalm 42:11 When fear and discouragement hit, it is important to remember that our emotions do not define us. Our feelings are a wonderful thermometer for helping us gauge what we are dealing with in our heart but our feelings are not the thermostat of the body, by which we set the temperature to function. The Bible states our thoughts need to be taken captive. We can acknowledge our fear and discouragement, but we must purposefully turn our thoughts to the promises and goodness of the Lord. ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 Sometimes it can be too easy to be overwhelmed or anxious. This is when we especially need to remember to keep our eyes on Christ. He alone is our peace. Jesus has to be at the centre of every thought and every action. This verse from 1 Peter 5:7 states “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 Above all, when any kind of sensation of being overwhelmed hit, it is absolutely imperative to focus on truth. |
We can acknowledge the feelings of despair, but we have to cling to the truth of Scripture. Cling to the Word and therefore to Christ, as if it is the only thing that will keep us afloat in the sea of turmoil. Sometimes when discouragement hits it’s because we have lost our focus. We are not seeking Christ. We are not loving Him with all our heart, soul and mind. Jesus is our peace. Sometimes the Lord allows us to be brought to the very edge of ourselves. He brings us to the place where we physically can not do it on our own. This is to teach us to rely on Christ for it is only through His empowerment that we can endure and do what He has called us to do. We have to trust the Lord who will always keep His promises. As we find the peace that surpasses understanding in Him and in Him alone, we become less burdened. We strive to glorify God in all that we do daily. The more we strive to bring God the glory the more joyful life is. Hymn: When Peace like a River Prayer Lord, we thank You for Your never failing love for us. When we face challenging situations help us rely on You and You alone. Give us patience to wait on Your peace and Your perfect plan being revealed as it is always the best way for us. Amen. |