Peace

Anxiety is hyper prevalent today’s world. 19% of American adults have an anxiety disorder. Younger people (18 to 24) now are far more likely to also experience anxiety (50%). Even in adolescents anxiety is on the rise. And women far more likely to struggle with anxiety disorders than men. (I’m one of them.) So, struggling to find peace is a serious problem many of us often face. And 60% of us do not seek the professional help we need. And I’ll be the first to tell – seek it. It took me years to do that and it has helped me tremendously.

But for many – even with professional help – peace still seems elusive. So, people frantically hunt for it but in all the wrong places. So the peace they desperately want and need continues to evade them. There is only one place that we will be able to find perfect peace and refuge from the storms of our life. Only one person who can quiet the storms and defeat the terrors of the night.

Our peace is Jesus Christ.

His peace is two – fold.

⭐️ He is the peace between our sinful selves and God’s perfect justice. He calms God’s judgment and reconciles our souls back to God. It is because of Christ that we can draw near to God again and that is what our soul is actively trying to do – find its way back to God. But Satan has convinced millions and millions of people that there are other pathways to reconciliation and peace with God. He is lying. There is only one source of our soul reconciliation with God – Jesus Christ.

⭐️ Because of our soul’s peace, our earthly lives can find peace through Jesus. Now, I’m not saying not to seek help or take medication (remember, I’ve done all those things.) But I’ll be the first to tell you that even all the help and medication you can find or take – doesn’t fix everything. There are moments when life just seems throw more at you than anything medicine or professional help can ease. The night terrors. The medical emergencies. The family problems. The financial burdens. The future fears. The past regrets. So, when the anxiety levels rise higher and higher – where is the only place you can turn to and find true satisfaction? Jesus. Give your fears and problems and anxieties to God and Jesus. Jesus lives this life. He knows what they feel like. He knows how hard they are to manage. He empathsizes with our struggles. He intercedes on our behalf to God about them. And God – well He certainly loves you more than the birds and animals whom He takes care of every day. He will take care of you too.

Often times we struggle with finding peace because we like to be in control and to know the future so we can control it too. But life constantly reminds us that we are in fact in control of very very little. In fact, we really only in control of our reactions to life’s problems and our day to day actions. Everything else is in many ways out of our control. We won’t find peace until we accept that fact. And once you accept that you realize that you can turn to God in those times you can’t control and He will help you through them – every time.

Peter walked on the water until he let the storms distract his eyes away from Jesus. His body plunged into the waters that stormy night and he called out to Jesus “Lord, save me!” And Jesus immediately walked to Him and pulled Peter up.

Let Jesus pull you up from the storms of this life. He will do it immediately. All you have to do is ask.