Horrible news hits us: wars, disasters, unprecedented storms, violence, hatred, division, abuse, and broken lives. Even if you try to escape, it seems impossible. Feeling helpless keeps us stuck in anxiety.
Chronic or terminal illness, loss of a loved one, or disillusionment overwhelm many individuals and families. Our weakness mocks us in that devastating moment.
What can you do? We have no control over what is happening and cannot control these events.
But take heart! The Bible, God’s word, teaches us:
pray
Prayer is the most powerful force available. God gave believers the gift of asking in the name of Jesus Christ, knowing that God would hear and answer. Jesus taught, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 NIV). It is essential to pray about all the doubts, fears, uncertainties and problems that come to mind. Prayer brings about change, so we need to bring everything to God Almighty.
The New Testament missionary Paul said, “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience the peace of God, which far exceeds anything we can understand. The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
Paul also mentions giving thanks. It is important to pray with gratitude, thanking God for all that He has done and will do.
have faith
Faith requires focusing on God and trusting Him for answers. Our Father is endowed with all wisdom, and nothing can surprise him. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “From the beginning I will make known the things that are to come. I will say, ‘My purpose endures, and I will do all that I will'” (Isaiah 46:10 NIV). He knows the outcome of every trial we face.
Our omniscient God “changes times and seasons, dethrones kings, and raises up others; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:21 NIV). His purpose will be accomplished. Peace is possible when we place our hope in the Lord’s sovereign care and control.
The Bible defines faith as “confidence of what we hope for and confidence of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). It’s about trusting God’s character and love. For “without faith it is impossible to please God, for everyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
God’s reward is not that we always get the answers we want, but that He gives us peace that surpasses understanding and the grace to endure whatever comes our way. We can believe in God and His promises. This includes knowing that God is always with us.
humbly submit to God’s will
Stubborn resistance often appears when life is disappointing. Many of us want to be in charge of our own lives. But believing we know more than God disturbs our peace.
The truth is, we are not in charge and we know nothing compared to God. Only our Almighty Father has eternal wisdom. True freedom comes when we humbly submit to God and accept His will.
Submission is not easy. God allows some difficult things to happen. But when we pray in faith and trust in God’s will no matter the outcome, God gives us peace even in the midst of pain and disappointment. God understands that we feel hurt and angry when we suffer dire consequences, but peace comes through obedience and trust. We place ourselves in the hands of the One who knows the end from the beginning.
When we resist with anger and pride, we find ourselves at enmity with God. The Bible teaches that “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6b NIV).
Jesus set an example by praying in the garden before going to the cross. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me,” Jesus cried in agony, “but not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). The essential prayer is asking for God’s will to be done. We can trust in God’s abiding love.
Next step
Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and step out in obedience. We do everything for the glory of God, whether it’s doing well at work, cleaning our house, loving our family, helping our neighbors, giving to those in need, serving, resting, etc. We move forward in service and love.
Missionary and author Elizabeth Elliott famously said: I don’t know of a simpler formula for bringing peace and reducing stress and anxiety than this very practical, very down-to-earth world of wisdom. Please do the following: It has put me through more suffering than anything else I can recommend. ”
Let the Holy Spirit guide you before you do what you need to do next.
Immerse Your Heart in God’s Truth
Considering the variety of opinions, it is difficult to distinguish truth from lies. We must fill our hearts with what we know to be true: God’s holy Word, the Bible. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and is the result of God’s supernatural work. God’s Word has the power to change our hearts and minds. They prepare us for what lies ahead. In God’s Word we find wisdom to live this life and face whatever comes our way.
The Bible teaches, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 NIV). Learning everything God says on a subject, rather than taking a verse out of context, gives us wisdom, direction, and truth.
Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and dive into the Word. Two great online resources are YouVersion and Bible Gateway.
love God and love others
Loving God above all else and loving others as God loves us fulfills God’s greatest command. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second is similar: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:36-40). By God’s grace and power, we can love others and show them the same grace we have received. No matter what happens, love is always the right choice.
Jesus also taught, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may become children of your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:44-45a NIV). It is a strong temptation to hate those who hurt us or oppose our beliefs, but it will never bring us closer to God. On the other hand, loving others shows God’s love for the world around us.
help someone
There are people around us who are in trouble. Whether they need a listening ear, a helping hand, a financial gift, encouragement, or support, we can show others who Jesus is by imitating his love. Helping someone often alleviates problems. God comforts us in times of trouble so that we can do the same for others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
To serve others is to serve Jesus Christ. He taught, “What you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).
No matter what is going on in our world, God will prepare us as we take the next step of following by soaking in truth, speaking to Him, and showing His love and grace to others. When we trust God, our hearts are filled with His peace.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/francescoch
Susan Aiken is a writer, wife, mother, and follower of Jesus. She is originally from Oklahoma but has lived in Nebraska for many years. In addition to writing, she has a passion for special needs and prayer ministry. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and photographing nature. She loves learning and teaching Bible truth. She believes that life is a journey and we are all in different places. To her, Jesus is everything and everything is grace. Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook.
