Inspirational Lifestyles: Be Anxious For Nothing (Day 3)

Praise 104.1

Thoughtful Woman Looking Down Against White Wall

Source: Mafusi Mokati / EyeEm / Getty

Is peace really possible today? Cheri went on a quest 11 years ago to find out. Here’s what she discovered along the way:

I remember it vividly. The day I decided I couldn’t live like this anymore.

Here I was, a fully devoted follower of Christ, responding to life pretty much like everyone else. I lived in fear and worry, yet I know it shouldn’t be that way! Consistently I read in the word of God not to be afraid and to be anxious for nothing. But that sounded impossible!

God has a lot to say in the Bible about fear and its antidote: peace. In one instance, Jesus and His disciples were on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when a furious storm theatened to sink them. They all fought to keep afloat, and what was Jesus doing? He was sound asleep! Right in the middle of the storm.

The disciples asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus got up and rebuked the storm, and it went completely calm. then He asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no fruit?’ Mark 4:40 NIV

That pretty much summed up the conversations I was having with God. I could feel Him asking me why I was afraid, and I was answering, isn’t it obvious? Look at my circumstances! Who wouldn’t or couldn’t be afraid?

In my quest for peace, several things became crystal clear.

My circumstances were determining my level of peace. If life’s circumstances were all good, then I was at peace. If storms were encircling me, I was stressed, anxious, and tired all the time – exhaused from my emotions. I was just like the disciples in the storm. I was fearful of the storm, hurt, and confused because I thought God didn’t care. But Jesus brought me to my next point.
Jesus was trying to teach me peace is possible, no matter the storm. Are you relatig to this battle? It’s not easy, is it? I was still struggling to understand how Jesus could expect me to experience peace in the storm, wondering if He truly even cared, when I realized my next break through point.
My storm revealed my level of trust. Peace doesn’t mean everything is going right in your in your life. It means being at peace when storms are shaking your life. I hadn’t learned to trust God and find peace even in those storms. Have you hit that wall yet?

It was obvious I had some room to grow. But I’m learning that the path to peace is found by trusting and fixing our thougts on the One who is never unsettled by storms. It didn’t happen overnight, but little by little, more peace and rest rejuvenated my tired, weary soul.

-Cheri

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6 -7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Mark 4:35-41 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee