Be Still
(and Know That He Is God)
Introduction:
I’m Pete. God loves you!
The topic today: Inner Peace.
With the troubling events going on internationally, nationally, locally, and individually, how does one find inner peace? What is meant by Christian Scripture portions such as, “Peace, be still!”, “Peace with God”, “Peace that goes beyond understanding”, “Take Heart”, and, “Be still and know that I am God”?
The Drift:
Before trying to explain the details, it might help to explain the overall picture. We all face the challenge of finding inner peace. If we don’t have any issues with others (and few don’t), we have issues with our own selves. We make mistakes and suffer disappointments, sadness, even discouragement. When we don’t find meaning in life, we look for it in all the wrong places. We might try to get right with “The Universe”.
But that misses the mark. There is Someone who created the universe, saw you coming before you were born, loves you, and has ultimate control. That Someone can pay for your sins, make you right with Him, and guarantee a place for you in Paradise. It is in getting things right with that Someone, and submitting to His authority, that you can get through this life on Earth with peace in your heart. That Someone is God, and Jesus. Meditation alone will never “cut it”. You need full peace, not a temporary partial repair.
True peace starts by getting right with God, your Authority. God made that possible by sending His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life, and take the death penalty for your sins, should you repent. So, there’s the first step; repent to God, and allow Jesus to take the death penalty for your sins too. That makes you better than right with “The Universe”. It makes you right with God, who created the universe and you.
Then, make an effort to live God’s way. That gives you the peace of knowing God sees that effort. Even when you make mistakes trying, you know God sees your heart and is open to forgiving you. You have the peace of working alongside God Himself. You are His friend. And God protects His friends all the way into Paradise for eternity.
Once you’ve repented and gotten right with God, and even while trying to live God’s way, life can appear “scary”. You might think to distrust God. Your eyes might be too focused on your circumstances. So you have to work to just do your best, then trust God for the rest. God helps behind the scenes, His way, His timing, His plan, big picture. Trust Him.
I admit that’s hard to do. Recently I planned to sing and play before a group of people. Maybe I wanted to sing for the wrong reasons. Also, I didn’t seem to have time to practice as I should. I could not sleep all night, fretting, just hoping for the best, but fearing worst. I arrived already mentally exhausted. I was scared. I didn’t sing well.
Do you see all the “I” statements in the previous paragraph? I was focused on myself and my circumstances. That took me away from focusing on doing things for God, His way, and trusting Him to help one way or another. But God used even that failure to help me. It helped me want to do things for the right reasons. It made me repent and get right with God again. It made me realize that it’s not how well I perform, but how I try. And, it made me remember to trust God to be with me and help me one way or another.
Some Details:
So, I’ll give you supporting Bible verses. I’ll try to give a brief, understandable explanation. If you don’t have a Bible, you might get a free Bible app. If you don’t “get it”, consider reading the verses around them, and consider the “drift”. God help you:
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)
(God and Jesus are the ones ultimately in control.)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11 (ESV)
(We are at peace with God, and have peace that comes into our hearts from God, when we bother to get right with Him through Jesus.)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)
(Once right with God, and trying to do His will, we pray to God, who gives inner peace.)
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33 (ESV)
(God doesn’t always keep us from tribulation, but He does keep us. Jesus will help us overcome because we are His friend and Jesus has already overcome. So, take heart.)
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalms 46:8-11 (ESV)
(Repeatedly, God helped a rag-tag group of ex-slaves (Israeli) miraculously win battles when armies worked to attack them, sometimes doing this all by Himself. If God is for you, He helps. Then, even death is only an entrance to Paradise. Don’t be anxious.) God Bless You!