Peace in the Storm

by | Jan 2, 2021 | 2020 Posts

Originally posted 3/20/20

Brett and I went to the store the other day. We needed a few items to get us through the week. You know, the normals: meat, milk, toilet paper; just things we use everyday. I heard that there was a toilet paper shortage, and that people were going to the stores and clearing out the shelves. I just never in a million years thought the shelves would be as empty as they were. It was eerie walking around, seeing the shelves completely empty of meat, veggies, and of course, toilet paper. It reminded me of stories my grandparents told of the time during World War II when there were rations on things like meat and paper goods. I know we aren’t anywhere close to that, but this is as close to living off rations that we have ever experienced. Thankfully we were able to get some meat and veggies for the week. Toilet paper had to wait, and now we are on a strict ration of how much each of us can use at a time. I call it a learning experience! 

The times we are living in can cause us to feel fear and worry. Remember that Jesus came to give us peace, love, and a sound mind. Fear comes from our enemy, and we have the power to tell that fear to leave us. My youngest daughter recently started struggling with fear when she went to bed at night. Nothing changed, but the spirit of fear entered her mind and told her that she should be afraid. She would come down to our room crying that she was scared. We knew that although she is only 9 years old, she has the power to make that evil spirit leave her alone. We equipped her with verses to read and reminded her that Jesus is with her and he wouldn’t allow anything to harm her while she slept. 

I find that using the Bible to combat things like fear and anxiety is the best weapon we have. There is a reason Paul charges us to use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God when he talks about putting on the Armor of God. Quoting scripture out loud does a few things: 

1. It sets our minds on truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (ESV) The truth found in the Word of God will set you free from worry and fear! Our minds like to focus on truth, and truth will always overpower lies in our minds. Our minds will focus on something. It will be either fear and worry or peace and contentment. We must train our brains to focus on the truth that is found in the Bible. While our minds may be saying, “Things are out of control. What is going to happen? When will my kids go back to school? What if this happens, or that happens?” we don’t have to allow the unknowns to control what we think about. Thinking about negative things will produce the fruit of worry and anxiety. Thinking about the positive things will produce the fruit of peace and tranquility. It’s up to each of us to fill our minds with things that will produce good fruit. We can choose to tell our feelings that things are going to be ok. What if we told ourselves, “I get to focus on spending time with my kids. I have no outside pressure to go and do anything. We can play games, go for walks, and watch movies together. We choose to think of this time as a great big adventure! How can I teach my kids to trust God during these times? How can we as a family serve others in our community (but still follow the rules set by our government)?” We have the best opportunity to show, not only our kids, but also those that we call neighbors, the love and peace that is only found in Jesus. 

2. It lets the enemy know we mean business. Satan has no power when God speaks, and the Bible is literally God speaking to us, his children. When we speak with the authority given to us by the Holy Spirit, we have the power to tell the enemy to leave us alone, and he must listen to us! We see this when Satan was tempting Jesus. Satan took bits and pieces of what Jesus spoke and tried to twist it to say something completely different. When Jesus spoke the truth, Satan could no longer argue with him. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh, and Satan’s words became powerless when Jesus spoke. The same goes when we speak the words from the Bible. Satan becomes powerless against the power in the words of the Bible, spoken by us.

In times like this I love to think about what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)‬‬.  

“”Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles (unbelievers) seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ‭‭(Words in parenthesis are mine).

Jesus knew that we all would live through times of uncertainty. He knew there would be periods of time when we might not know where our next meal would come from. He knew that in March of 2020 there would be panic, and getting toilet paper would be like finding gold. Jesus promises us here that he will take care of us. He is your provider. He is my provider. We need to surrender our needs to him and let him amaze us! 

I’m reminded of George Müller, who ran an orphanage in the 1800s. He relied on God to provide meals for him and the orphans he cared for. I recall reading a story about him and the kids sitting at the breakfast table. The cupboards were completely empty. George and the children prayed and asked God for some breakfast. Then suddenly a knock at the door came, and they were given all the food and milk they needed. George Müller knew he could trust God to be his provider. You and I can trust God to be our provider. Remember what Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” 

Yes, things seem uncertain at the moment. Yes, we suddenly find ourselves living differently than we normally do. These aren’t bad things though. It’s in these times we get to live out what we say we believe. I say I trust God to provide for me. I say that I want more time to hang out as a family. I say that I don’t need to worry because I know that my Father is in control. I say I want to show the world the love of Jesus. Now I have the opportunity to live all those things out. I get to flex my spiritual muscles as I trust God. I get to slow down and spend quality time with my family. I have the opportunity to be the calm in the storm to my unsaved friends and neighbors. At the end of all of this we all have the opportunity to be much stronger in our faith, and that is something even the world can’t deny. So go out there and love on people. Give them a roll of toilet paper if they need it! Tell the world about the God you serve who gives you his peace to weather this storm. Show your kids how to trust in God even when things look uncertain. You can do it because Jesus gives you the power to do so! 

Here is a list of verses I have been thinking on over the past week. 

  • “You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NJKV) 
  • “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalms‬ ‭56:3‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)
  • “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms‬ ‭34:4‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)
  • “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)
  • “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)
  • “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:18‬ (‭ESV‬‬)
  • “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)
  • “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John‬ ‭16:33‬ (‭ESV‬‬)
  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Here are some songs I love to listen to: