There is a tremendous comfort to be found in recognizing God’s sovereignty over everything. We must take heart that our immediate circumstances are under His control. Sometimes this can lead us to question the will of God in the wake of a tragedy or some set of unfortunate events. However, those are the times where we may sometimes best demonstrate our faith. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and He often uses trials to mold our character (1 Peter 5:10). While it is never comfortable in the moment, God has an infinitely greater view of what is best in the context of eternity and the authority to allow these kinds of things to happen in our lives from time to time. We must take heart that while sometimes we do tackle things beyond our abilities to cope, He will send His children provisions to persevere. Whether that be through a faithful friend, loving family, or a compassionate set of brothers and sisters in Church, He will see you through the storm. Even when the deck might appear impossibly stacked against you, our God takes delight in making the impossible possible for His people (Matthew 19:26).
It is remarkable how reading the scriptural reality of this having happened in the lives of our forefathers often brings us comfort. I usually try to personalize it a step further when it applies to my own life. How can I doubt God’s goodness when I have tasted of it first-hand? There’s no way I can lose faith because things are not going my way when I can see God’s perfect track record operating in my life. Does this mean He has always met my expectations? No. However, my expectations are not the standard for how He works. Situations, where I might see failure without redeeming value have often turned into some of the most valuable experiences of my life. The kinds of events that genuinely shape you into a better person are priceless. I concede that they happen according to God’s will, but I also pray for as much gentleness as possible to accompany His loving and firm correction (Hebrews 12:6-11). Indeed seeing how faithful He has been even in my time here on earth instills in me an unshakeable trust that there is no reason for Him to begin to let me down now. God is not in the business of leaving or forsaking us, nor starting a good work in us and not seeing it through to its completion (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 1:6). With these realities in mind, along with the fact that He has greater control of all situations than we can fathom, how can we not find peace?
Indeed, there are times when we might not be feeling an immediate sense of peace or comfort. However, we know that our foundation does not need to be compromised when grounded in Jesus Christ. When our identity is firmly rooted in our Lord’s salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and being partakers of an eternal inheritance as God’s children, we can find permanent security. No matter what chaos we might witness around us or even experience ourselves, He never fails us (Romans 8:35-39). Often, with a good dose of perspective, our perceived problems are truly minuscule and solvable. Unfortunately, in our culture, we tend to fall into the trap of dramatizing our issues and under-appreciating the numerous blessings God has bestowed upon us. Going back to that position of gratitude and contentment will help us appreciate the bigger picture.
No one has a perfect life regardless of what their Instagram or Facebook pages seem to tell you. Remember, comparison on social media often leads to envy and jealousy. It achieves nothing and leaves you feeling like you do not measure up. It fails to appreciate what someone sacrificed to get to where they are. You also show God in a sense that you think you know more than Him because perhaps your life is not at the stage you expected it to be by now. So instead of spending that precious time comparing your everyday life to their highlight reel, work on doing things God’s way. There is nothing wrong with celebrating milestones or congratulating friends on theirs, among other social media activities, but it can become toxic, like many different tools. If you know deep down it is your kryptonite, it might be best to disconnect for a time and turn back to God.
One of the most excellent ways of achieving peace is to set yourself up for it with intentionality. If you are not spending quiet time alone with God and His Word, how do you expect to experience the rewards associated with it? When we worry or get anxious about the future, we essentially mistrust God’s plans for us. Sometimes we know this as common sense or intuitive knowledge, but we lack wisdom if we fail to apply it. I am not claiming I am free from error and use this with flawless consistency. Armed with this knowledge I put an emphasis on trusting God and casting my cares to Him. Thus I have some seasons where I succeed a great deal in this area.
In contrast, others occasionally arise where I do not implement what I know I should. The sooner we catch ourselves sliding away, the better off we will be. Ideally, as it becomes the crucial necessity it deserves in our lives, reading the Bible will be integral to you. Essentially, Bible study should be as eating and prayer as breathing in your journey as a believer.
I encourage you to be considerate of others along the way too. Our strengths and weaknesses may all look different, but one thing is for sure, we are all fighting some battle. So let us make it a point to extend each other the grace, mercy, and love to persevere in life. If we love even our enemies, what excuse do we have not to try our best to be there for our loved ones (Matthew 5:43-48)? Do not let this be a guilt trip. There is no shame in being a work in progress, and as such, surely we ought to give ourselves the same grace we strive to provide others. In some cases, perhaps even more grace because many of us tend to be our most prominent critics.
Let the critic in you take a backseat as you peacefully take refuge in God’s sovereignty (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). There is no better place to be than at the center of the will of God for your life. No matter what that looks like, we all need to pursue it because tomorrow is not guaranteed, and we need to make the absolute best of every day. May God be glorified by our actions as we find satisfaction, joy, comfort, and peace in Him. Eventually, the Fruits of the Spirit, a relationship with Jesus Christ yields, will overflow into the various areas of our lives that He motivates us in. Without question, the more of our lives we surrender to God, the more we can see His hand working in them.
