As believers, we hear all the time to trust in God. To trust, to have faith. It all sounds good on paper, and in theory. But how do you truly apply it to this crazy world we are living in?
It’s a difficult thing to be optimistic, to see the bigger picture, and to be hopeful in our day-to-day lives lately. In today’s culture, especially this last year of dealing with a pandemic, wrongful deaths, riots, and divisive politics – we are never sure what type of day we are waking up to. It seems like we are living in a world where one crisis follows another, and it’s hard to remain in a peaceful state of mind when we live in so much insecurity in the world.
But though we may live in an insecure world, we serve a powerful God. Even if you are experiencing crisis after crisis, Yahweh is still King. He has been King, and He will continue to be King. He’s in total control.
Let’s stand on that truth and begin to walk in God’s peace that exceeds every crisis.
A Peace That Surpasses Our Understanding
We often think that we can live in peace once we know all the answers and the outcomes of such events and crises in the world. When we don’t know what will happen or focus on what could happen, we open ourselves to worry, which robs us of peace.
Peace is spoken about all throughout the Bible. In fact, it’s mentioned over 400 times in both the Old and New Testament. God must have known we would need encouragement and instructions on how to live in peace during such turbulent times. Thank you Lord for providing us with your Word as our guide! Over and over throughout Scripture, He reminds us that we can walk in peace, because “he has gone before us, He’ll go ahead of us, He’ll be right behind us, and He will never ever leave us nor forsake us” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Furthermore, God offers us a “peace that far surpasses all our understanding.” Meaning, all the crises we face one after another, we tend try to make sense of by trying to understand it all. We watch news, read articles, talk to peers and family about it, and try to sort it out in our own heads. Thankfully, “God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than ours. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9). So while we might not understand and never understand, we can trust that He in fact does understand. We can trust in that.
Look to Jesus, Not to the Storm
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some may trust in chariots and horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord.” Let me remind you that it’s God’s job to handle the world we live in, and it’s our job to trust Him.
As believers, we hear all the time to trust in God. To trust, to have faith. It all sounds good on paper, and in theory. But how do you truly apply it to this crazy world we are living in? When crisis after crisis appears. The way I’ve been able to trust in God when at times the world is literally falling down around me is to keep my eyes on Him.
There is a beautiful story in the Bible I go to that reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus, turning our eyes toward Him, not the crisis.
The disciples were being tossed about by a storm in the sea. In the middle of the wind and waves, they thought they saw Jesus from afar, walking towards them on the water. Peter wasn’t sure if it was Jesus, so he called out saying “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So, Jesus said, “Come (walk on water)”. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31)
Peter was afraid. But he still stepped out of the boat onto the water. When did Peter start sinking? The moment he took his eyes off of Jesus and set them on the boisterous wind around him. Friends, we too will sink every time we take our eyes off of Jesus. Another beautiful reminder in this story is that even though Peter doubted, the second he cried out, Scripture says Jesus immediately stretched out His hand. He was in the thick of it with Peter, ready to give a hand, and he’s right here with us during the circumstances we face today too.
Let’s never forget to keep our focus on Jesus and not lose sight of him when the storm is brewing.
A Prayer for Facing One Crisis after Another
Dear Lord,
Father, we thank you for Scripture, for your Word is the “light unto our path” (Psalm 119:105). It’s by design you don’t light up a whole room with a roadmap of details, but rather you give us a just enough light to follow the path one step at a time, fully depending on you.
Thank you for offering us peace that far surpasses our understanding of the world and every crisis we are experiencing. It’s been an ever-changing year for all of us, but we thank you that you are a never-changing God. While the world around us changes, you remain the same. For “you are the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Malachi 3:6). Please remind us in moments of doubt to keep our focus on you. That while the world may not be good, and the crisis we are experiencing doesn’t feel good, we can stand in the truth that you yourself are good.
We trust you today that you are faithful and that you are who you say you are. Forgive us at times for trusting in chariots and horses – the news, and the media, and all the things of this world. Remind us to “think on things above, and not on things of this world”, (Colossians 3:1) as we navigate through the messy world, crisis after crisis. Your Word says in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 that “we must endure hardship as a good solider of Christ Jesus. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affair of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier.” Thank you that you chose me to be a solider for you, the greatest leader in the biggest war of all time here on earth. Remind us that this earth is our battlefield, and our position is to be the warrior you have called us to be.
Thank you that I don’t need to fix every crisis nor understand it all, yet you will still provide us with peace. You see the greater picture. We ask for your strength and daily reminders to not become absorbed with ourselves, with the affairs of this life, the storms, and the many crises. We choose today to trust in you and not the world around us. We choose to look at life from the view of having you who will never leave us by our side. We choose that, although we live in uncertainty, we serve a God of absolute certainty. We love you Lord, and we commit our hearts to you this day.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/fizkes
Alisha Headley is a writer + speaker who has a desire to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with biblical truth. Stepping into her true calling, she left the corporate world behind as a former-financial VP to love on her family as a stay-at-home wifey + dog mama, while also being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Healing from a chapter of life consumed with lies she once believed about herself, she is inspired to point women to Christ to experience the freedom + power to overcome those lies with the truth written in God’s word. In her free time, Alisha enjoys road trips around the country, working out so she can eat her favorite foods, and creatively styling her outfits with a craft for fashion. Alisha is a proud wifey and dog mama living in Scottsdale, Arizona.
You can follow her blog by visiting her website or connect with her on facebook + instagram.
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This article is part of our larger Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayer for God's Help
Prayer for Strength
Prayer for Protection
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
