Peace When the World Feels Heavy - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 25

Devotional Verse:
“The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,^[a]
    the world and those who dwell therein,
² for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers” (Psalm 24:1-2, ESV).

It is one thing to read the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 about the Last Days: wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, great deception, etc., and another thing to be actually living through these events in such a short period of time. The last five years have been among the most chaotic the world has experienced in recent decades. As a mom of little ones, I have battled many anxieties about the world that my children will grow up in as things continue to grow darker and more worrisome. It seems the Lord is shaking all that can be shaken. But as believers, we have not built our life upon the hope (or lack thereof) of the world, which is sinking sand; Our foundation has been built upon the Rock of Jesus Christ, which cannot be moved or shaken, no matter what is going on around us. 

Although we live in this world and experience the turbulence and chaos that seems to be at every corner, we must remember as children of God who holds the world, and who not only determines the temporal future on the earth, but who has written our names in the Lamb's Book of Life where life eternal is offered to all those who trust in the Lord. We find true hope in God's sovereignty in all things, and we are reminded that our Father is the Creator of the entire universe. Nothing is outside of His control; nothing slips past His fingers! We see the truth of God's perfect sovereignty in Psalm 24 that brings about great peace, even in the midst of the shaking:

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,[a]

    the world and those who dwell therein,

2 for he has founded it upon the seas

    and established it upon the rivers" (Psalm 24:1-2, ESV).

Oh, what joy to know that all the earth belongs to the Lord! There is no maverick molecule in God's universe! He has ordained and orchestrated all things and has determined every event and every step in the lives of those who dwell on the earth. God has established everything and will hold all things together. He will accomplish His will not only for your individual life, but for the planet itself. This type of understanding of God's sovereignty should cause us to rest and build our trust in the Lord all the more. Since we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), we should not allow "unprecedented times" to let our peace be shattered but strengthened. God will also use all things to conform us to the image of Christ, and often in the life of the believer, that includes pain and suffering. "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45b, ESV). Are you anxious about the world growing dark? Cast your cares upon the Lord and remember that He has called us to be light in the world to point others to Him. In times of suffering and trial, we can pray for God's mercy to come and cry out for His help in times of trouble. Still, we must remember that Jesus promised, "In this life, there will be trouble" (John 16:33). Yet, we know that He overcame the world for us, and we will one day fully experience that victory when we meet Him face to face. Until then, we can rest in His perfect peace as the chaos surrounds us and know that He is the anchor and hope of our souls.

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

Related Resource: How Faith Finds Us When Life Takes a Detour

Joining us this week is worship leader turned viral comedian Heather Land. After growing up in the shadow of her mother’s decades-long addiction, Heather reflects on how this painful season—alongside her unexpected shift from the worship stage to the world of comedy—taught her that while our paths may take unforeseen turns, our core calling to encourage and uplift others remains constant.

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Rachel Kessler, an Episcopal priest and Kenyon College chaplain who completed her PhD in medieval studies at the University of Toronto before pivoting to seminary after hitting academic burnout, then built a following as the “Nerdy Priest” on TikTok after a student secretly downloaded the app on her phone. 

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