He is our peace in the midst of the storm. Jesus said that in this world we would have troubles. The psalmist said that his troubles had gotten bigger, and put him in distress. Sometimes we look for relief but it seems as if our troubles get worse instead of better.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring me out of my distresses. Psalm 25:17
We see that the troubles were matters of the heart. It is one thing to have bad circumstances, but when your situation causes you to become troubled in heart it begins to have a tremendous impact. A troubled heart is an emotional heart under stress. Just like a vulture that surrounds an animal waiting for it to die, this is how the devil circles around a troubled heart, waiting for it to faint!
Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my soul is troubled; my heart is turned
within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaves, at home
there is as death. Lamentations 1:20
Sometimes we bring our own troubles upon ourselves, sometimes though we have done nothing wrong, trouble seems to surround us. In Lamentations the prophet declares..."I am in distress...and my heart is turned within me." In times of great trouble and stress people often have chest pains, or other symptoms of heart attack. It is overwhelming the impact on the heart that distress can cause us.
Whenever fear, and panic and stress overwhelms us what brings us the comfort and relief that we need? Will narcotics help? Some people go with a temporary relief by using narcotics, but this kind of solution eventually backfires, and in the end will usually cause even more problems and stress for us. Isn't a narcotic just a means of escape? Isn't it just a way to run from problems. There was never a problem solved by running from the situation.
The Bible declares that He (God) is our peace. Peace is a gift from God.
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be
with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
We see here that peace is something that God gives, it is not something that we take for ourselves. All the self-help books and techniques in the world will not bring peace, only God gives peace, it is a gift from God. We all understand how important peace is. When we go to a family gathering, we hope that peace is present. If we know before we go that someone will be there who will want to argue with us, or to confront us, we may be uncomfortable with going. Most of us don't like walking into a non-peaceful situation. When the enemy wants to stop you from doing God's will, the first thing he will do is to take your peace. How does he do this? By sending you a lot of trials, problems, lack of cooperation from the people around you. The world sometimes refuses to give you peace.
What if people are determined to always stir the pot, and troubles abound. You can still have peace. Jesus said, "MY PEACE I leave with you."
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
If the world and the things of it, and the people in it are trying to take peace away from you, turn to God and receive his peace. Oh, he will give you peace in the midst of the storm. He is a friend who sticks with you closer than a brother. He will never leave you nor forsake you. If God be for you, than who can be against you!
It is possible to have peace in the midst of our storms, ask God to give you his peace. It is a peace that passes all understanding.
