Often it is easy with personal reasoning to allow the voices, problems, and circumstances around us, to drown out the Holy Spirit’s still small voice as He says, “This is the way, walk in it.” The Bible’s warning that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12) is not just for unbelievers but for believers too. As a believer in Jesus Christ there are many times when my way seems far more attractive and practical then God’s way. Although I would never voice that out loud or at times not even think about it this way on purpose, in reality this is what I tend to believe. What indicators show up when I choose my way over God’s? Loss of sleep, anxiety, frustration, anger, a sense of driveness, worry, fear, insecurity, and the list could go on.
The absence of peace can be the greatest indicator that I am not “trusting in the Lord with all my heart” (Proverbs 3:5) because Jesus doesn’t give us a “spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He also said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Paul challenged the believers in Colossae to “…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
When I’m stressed, fearful, and overwhelmed with despair the last thing on my mind is to thank God for what He is doing. Yet, that is often the root problem. I forget that He IS in complete control and is working ALL things together for my good. (Romans 8:28) In order for me to experience the true peace of God in my heart I have to release what I am carrying to Jesus and then put my complete trust in Him to work everything out according to His perfect plan. Psalm 37 has many encouraging, yet challenging, insights on our walk with God. Verse 1) Do not fret…, vs. 3) Trust in the Lord…, vs. 4) Delight yourself in the Lord…, vs. 5) Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. Vs. 7) Rest in the Lord…, vs. 8 ) Cease from anger…
When I choose to follow the Lord and to walk in His ways… even when they do not make sense… I get to see the mighty hand of God work in and around my life in ways that are unbelievable. And through it all have the tremendous blessing of His peace filling and flowing through me regardless of the storms or trials I am walking through.
May each of us take the Lord at His word and put our complete trust in Him. As someone once said, “how is it that we can put our faith and trust in Jesus to save us from eternal destruction, but fail to trust Him for the needs we have today or this coming month?” Look expectantly to Jesus “who is the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). What Isaiah penned so many years ago is still just as true today as it was when he wrote it. May each of us live out this reality each and every day and watch with great anticipation God do amazing things on our behalf.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6-9)
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