Riverside Community Church Blog

Where do we find hope and peace? Is peace found in our so called “perfect” lives that we try to create, manipulate and control? Is it found in our achievements-if we study enough, train enough, read enough, then we will be able to find success in this world which will lead us to peaceful lives?

I’m learning that the only source of true hope and true peace is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The longer that I am alive and the less I try and control, the more I feel the presence and peace of Jesus.  And it’s the peace that only He can give.  I was in a situation last weekend where I felt overly peaceful in the midst of chaos.  It was really the first time I recognized this change, as for many years the opposite would happen. Life would spiral out of control and I would grab tighter and tighter to what I convinced myself was controllable and I would try and manipulate things while being anxious, fearful and just a mess.  My need for power and control of my life was such a sneaky piece of pride in my heart and mistrust in God that needed to be gone.  As much as I told myself and others that I loved God and trusted his plans for my life, I was working hard to manipulate God and was in fact not trusting Him.  I convinced myself that my way was the best way and when things didn’t go the way that I had planned, I went into hyper-drive to make sure that things would turn around by my best efforts. 

Guess what… our best laid plans and intentions are no match for the goodness that awaits us when we trust in God’s timing and plans for our lives! His plans for our lives are so much better than we could ever imagine! Even though, most of the time, God’s plans do not look like our plans and the journey can be confusing and difficult at times, I’ve learned to seek Him in all things.  God, Our Heavenly Father is not changing- ever! He sees us and know everything about us.  Even when life is spiraling out of control, God see us-you and me and all of his children.  My peace in this life cannot come from a “perfect” life, one without problems and challenges.  This type of life does not exist on this side of Heaven.  Jesus himself said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace in this world.  You will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

I encourage you today to rest in Him, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I pray that you lay YOUR plans aside for your life and focus on what it is that God wants you to do.  What does He have in mind for you, his precious, loved, accepted child? May you grow in your relationship with your Heavenly Father by reading His Word and learning more about Him and His heart towards you.  I pray that you spend some time sitting with God and talking with Him in prayer.  I pray that you allow yourself to be still so that you can experience the peace of God.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Write a Comment

Comments for this post have been disabled.