Peace where you are.

Some days are harder then others.  This particular day was a doozy.  In the span of eight hours I heard three heartbreaking stories of families in chaos. Then I made the mistake of turning on the news. There wasn’t a heartwarming story to be heard instead, I listened to the broadcaster share the soaring numbers of this raging pandemic, in a world in a state of turmoil.

Maybe it was the day I had had that made me desperate to find some peace. So, I put on the kettle for some tea, turned off the television and sat in the quiet and prayed.  

It was then that I remembered this story:

There once was a ruler who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The ruler looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror with peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was a stormy sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning flashed. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all to those who saw it.

But when the ruler looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest there. In the midst of the threatening torrent of water, and stormy sky, sat the mother bird on her nest-in perfect peace.

Guess which picture won the prize? The ruler chose the second picture. Do you know why?

He chose the second picture because it was true to life. Peace does not need to be found in a place where there is no noise, trouble, hard work, or strife. Peace can be found in the midst of all those demanding things. 

Peace can be found in knowing that in the midst of the chaos, God is still in charge. God is still in control and God sees you and knows exactly what you need.  Peace is surrendering to God.

Peace can be find right where you are.

So how are you, really?

Last weekend was tough with news of growing Pandemic numbers, increased security and safety measures and an extended provincial lock down.  

So how are you? Really?

When I was asked that question recently I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.

Some moments are fine, other moments are great and then there are moments when I feel sad, lonely, anxious and scared — followed almost immediately by pangs of guilt because really I  have nothing to complain about.  The emotions run the gambit and often all in a span of a few minutes.  It almost feels like I am going around in circles.

Can anyone else relate?

My feelings, in this midst of the chaos of this world, can be all over the place, but I am comforted by the Word of God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Really, to "lean not on your own understanding” is to lean completely into the strong arms of God. It doesn’t mean that we are not to be critical thinkers. There are no walls of separation between our intellect and faith, in the Bible. When we are told to lean not on “our own understanding”, it refers to the conclusions based primarily on our own perceptions. And respectfully, our own understanding simply will not bear the full weight of what was, what is and what could be. 

In order to lean there has to be a shift from that comfortable and stable upright position. And this is the same with God, we must let go of that seemingly reliable thing we are trusting (what we think, how we feel) and lean back on God. That is when our faith becomes active and God can work.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

When we lean, not on our own understand but when we lean into God, we will still experience the chaos of the world, but we don’t do it alone.  

When we lean into God, instead of going in circles, God will make our paths straight.

When we lean into God, there is a renewed strength. 

When we lean into God there is renewed focus and clarity.

When we lean into God, there is hope.

God can use anyone!

Ever feel insecure?  Just don’t measure up to the next person?

Have you ever met someone that seems to have it all together?  Wakes up at the crack of dawn to pray for hours, spews scripture like nobody’s business, serves the community, never gets tired, never gets sick, never fights with their spouse, never selfish, never has doubts?  Ugh!

Well, I am definitely not that person! 

But when I read the Word of God, here is what I find encouraging: 

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.  —Jer. 1:4-8

You know what I love about this?  In these verses God doesn’t just give Jeremiah a pep talk, like ‘You can do it, you can do it!, Go Jerry!” But in these verses God acknowledges that Jeremiah is inadequate, He knows all about Jeremiah. After all, God created him (v.5).  It’s as though God is saying “so what if you are inadequate, listen up - I AM not, so stop making excuses - let go of the baggage - and trust me!”

If you take a read through the Bible, you will discover that God used a great number of individuals who were unworthy, and inadequate to accomplish amazing things! 

• Noah was a drunk! (Genesis 9:21)

• Abraham thought he was too old! (Genesis 17:17)

• Isaac was a liar, just like his Dad! (Genesis 26:7, 20:2)

• Jacob was a liar & a schemer! (Genesis 27:19 and many more!)

• Leah was plain (ugly?)! (Genesis 29:17)

• Joseph was abused! (Genesis 37:18f and many more!)

• Moses had a speach problem! (Exodus 4:10)

• Gideon was afraid! (Judges 6:27)

• Samson had long hair and was a womanizer! (Judges 16:17, 14:2, 16:1)

• Rahab was a prostitute! (Joshua 2:1, 6:17)

• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young! (Jeremiah 1:6, 1 Timothy 4:12)

• David was an adulterer and a murderer! (2 Samuel 12:9)

• Elijah was suicidal! (1 Kings 19:4)

• Isaiah preached naked! (Isaiah 20:2-3)

• Jonah ran from God! (Jonah 1:3)

• Naomi was a bitter widow! (Ruth 1:20)

• Job went bankrupt! (Job 1:13-19)

• Peter denied Christ! (Matthew 26:69-74)

• The Disciples fell asleep while praying! (Matthew 26:40-43)

• Martha worried about everything! (Luke 10:40-41)

• The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once! (John 4:18)

• Zaccheus was too small! (Luke 19:3)

• Paul was too religious! (Philippians 3:4-6)

• Timothy had an ulcer! (1 Timothy 5:23) AND

• Lazarus was dead! (John 11:1-44)

God was able to use all of these people for His plan and His purposes.  What I love is that we don’t have to be perfect for God to use us.  We just have to trust that God is perfect and has a plan for our lives.