God speaks. And He speaks on topics that we need, when we need them. I have been reading Chapter 6 - from anxious to peaceful - Conquering Your Fears in simplify. In simplify, Hybels talks about how fear cannot rule where God reigns and reminds us that we are to turn our hearts to God. Then in Pastor Trigg's sermon this weekend, he opened with Luke 19:42, "If only you knew where you could find the peace you so desperately seek after..."
We all experience situations in our life that rob us of the peace that God so desires for His people - for each of us. Hybels describes these instances as peace busters and that they shatter our tranquility and allow anxiety and fear to rule in our life. Peace busters may come as financial pressures or relational issues that we discussed in prior posts on this book. They can also comes as unexpected bad news, moral failure, or impending morality.
There are constructive fears that we face, such as driving more carefully when the roads are icy or studying to prepare for an exam. A certain amount of fear can be motivating to help us do our best. This fear can prevent us from physical danger and even deeper, spiritual dangers. We keep our eyes on the reward - the goal of heaven and life eternal. Constructive fears can hold us accountable and reaching for the end.
Deconstructive fears on the other hand, are crippling. These fears don't have us pondering eternity and clutters our emotional well-being and complicates our lives as it diminishes the quality of our life. This fear undermines the life God calls us to live.
In order to simplify our lives, we need conquer our fears. There are steps we can put into motion to become free from fear and experience peace.
Step 1 - Understand Fear's Origin
Often we erect walls around us based on fear because of one life event that caused us harm. We then build from that one experience a fear that can be so debilitating that it prevents us from living the life we want to live or the life God planned for us.
Step 2 - Expose Fear's Lies
Once we have an understanding of where the fear comes from, we need to expose the lies behind that fear. We tend to think of worst case scenarios for situations where there is a reasonable cause. We do this frequently and in those situations, we take our eyes off of God - His power and His provision. We become paralyzed by fear.
Step 3 - Face Fear Head-On
Sweeping things under the carpet, never resolves problems. Fear escalates when it is ignored. We can diminish our fear when we understand it's origin. Allow God to help direct you in facing your fear. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot do." And as Philippians 4:13 states, we know that we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We must surrender our fears and allow the power of Christ Jesus to work in and through our lives.
Step 4 - Speak Words of Truth
Gain victory through your lies by speaking truth in your life and over the lies. Frequently with students I see negative self-talk and students do it enough that they begin to believe that they are not smart. We constantly encourage them in positive self-talk so that they will be able to face the lies. It is in this scenario that we stop with the worst-case that bring so much anxiety and turn it to the positive and see the situation for what it truly is. Living our life grounded in scripture also helps us in moments like these. We can use scripture verses to speak into our lives during difficult situations to help us know truth and give us the sense of peace we so need and desire. Prayer is also of the utmost importance.
The sermon this weekend at church was entitled, "If They Only Knew" and spoke about our salvation and the peace we find in Christ Jesus. A heart that has truly encountered Jesus is a heart that is completely filled with peace. Peter Walsh talks about what we seek after, "If you define yourself by your possessions and financial status, you'll never find peace of mind, lasting contentment, and deep-rooted happiness." I find in life I am reminded of this time and time again. It is easy for us to rationalize the if only I had this, or if only I looked like this, or if only...but living life in a constant "if only" state gets exhausting and makes one feel so lonely as we constantly strive for that one thing that may help us feel at peace and feel content. And in the end, we are only left disappointed when we get what we wanted but it doesn't bring us the happiness and peace of mind we thought it may.
As we enter the passion week, we reflect on the sacrifice made. Often we think about how Jesus' life was taken but in actuality, Jesus gave His life. He gave His life for us. We are reminded that Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday when the Gentiles were choosing their passover lamb to be sacrificed. His entrance as it was, happened just as it was intended. For Jesus, Jerusalem was a place of destiny and He knew the plan of the Father. "He came to give His life as a ransom for many." ~Matthew 20:28
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he did so very humbly. That entrance speaks to us. Jesus extends an invitation to us. He knocks. We simply need to answer and accept Him into our lives.
Will we make room in our hearts? Or are our hearts too cluttered with the many things that vie for our attention in this life? We need to answer and accept His invitation - to accept Him. But how many of us do that and then live compartmentalized lives? Lives where we speak of the faith we have but that it is not lived out in our daily lives? Jesus wants not just a part of us but all of us. He wants to cleanse us. He wants to be an aspect of every part of our life and when we have gone astray, He comes again, continually knocking on the door. It is in giving up our life that we experience peace - His peace.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the joyful voices were singing, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!" The passion week is a week that defines our life in Christ. We need to allow our commitment to be real and true. We should be people who experience contentment and peace in Him and who joyfully praise Christ for who He is, what He has done, and what Jesus means in our life. Luke 19:42, "If only your had known on this day what would bring peace..." Jesus saw all - He saw the brokenness of His people. Jesus is our King who came to save and to impart our lives forever. Jesus wept. He wept over the lack of peace in our lives and over our brokenness. And right there, He was willing to be the ultimate sacrifice that would bring ultimate peace for all who believed.
Is this the kind of peace you want in your life? Have you accepted Him? If so, how do you experience and express the heart of Jesus? This is a question that I plan to continue to reflect on as I want Jesus to be evident in my life for all those who I meet. Have you emptied the clutter that fills your life and heart to make room for Him? Are you willing to give Him all of your heart? If so, you must simply go - go to Him. We can know Jesus as our Saviour and we can respond to His invitation. In one of C.S. Lewis' last letters he wrote, "If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you may always do so."
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