Finding Peace in the Chaos and Adversity of Today
March 15, 2022
Finding Peace in the Chaos and Adversity of Today
By Wendy Berghane, Hearts Alive Curriculum Specialist
The world seems a bit crazy right now. We are coming out of a worldwide pandemic. Without much time to breathe, our hearts and minds are thrown into processing a war breaking out overseas. With all the politics, economic issues, arguing, and everyone wanting others to hear and follow their voice, it’s easy to let anxiety set in. We wonder how things will all turn out. We literally drown in information through news channels, websites, and social media. Our brains are overloaded, and our hearts feel heavy. As Christians, what are we to do?
Trust in the Lord.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about one of the first Bible verses I ever memorized—Proverbs 3:56 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight” (NIRV). I received a gold star for memorizing that verse, but more importantly, I received one of God’s truths that day and have carried it in my heart since—pondering, recalling, and speaking it, and resting in it.
Trusting in the Lord is not easy. At least it hasn’t been an easy road in my experience. Perhaps that is because I am a “fixer.” I want answers; I want solutions. I want to understand the issue and develop a plan to fix it. And although that God-given wiring has served me well in parts of my life, it has also been the cause of great anxiety, fear, anger, and even hopelessness. I cannot fix a global pandemic. I cannot fix the weights the world brings. I cannot fix horrible diseases or health issues. I cannot even fix all the family issues that come up. And you know what? I never will.
When we fail to trust God with all of our stuff; problems, issues, fears, disappointments, and even our hopes and dreams, then we are saying, “God, I can do this on my own.” And that ideology just leads down a path of more disappointment, hurt, frustration, and grief. Why? Because our eyes, our hearts, and our minds are only privy to such a small piece of the larger story. “Trust in the LORD with all of your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.” That second sentence reminds us of how much we lack. When we try to depend on ourselves—our own thoughts and plans for fixing a crushing problem—we are just trying to fix sin with more sin.
Instead, we are instructed to obey and trust God. As we try desperately to fix things through control, manipulation, power, or worry, our loving Father calls us to a place of peace. A place where we don’t have to figure it all out or fix everything. A place where even during the chaos and crazy, we can live each day in joy because we know our God has eyes that see all things from beginning to end. His ways are above any possible thought or idea we have, and his heart is pure and perfect. So our response to the crazy, the hurt, and the fear is to praise God and walk in his light. “And he will make our paths straight.”
Never once does God say “life will be easy” or “everything will be okay.” God doesn’t lie to us. But he gives us what we need to navigate through this imperfect world. This Lenten season, open your Bible. Read God’s Word. Discuss it at the dinner table. Breathe in the truths he has for us. And breathe out the weight of the world. Enjoy the peace and joy God delivers when we surrender. Trust in our perfect, faithful Father.
Recommended Resourced:
Why is trust so difficult? Unlike all the broken promises of this world, God’s redeeming promises are absolute, trustworthy, and true. The covenants of God afford us with abundant reasons to trust God with his plan for our lives. Trusting God: Redeeming Promises of the Word small group Bible study explores the six major redeeming promises of God found in his Word. Learn more about God’s commitment to his people, the nature of a covenant, and how you can find your security in being a child of God’s redeeming promises. Learn more about God’s promises today.
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