The sun rose this morning. Our cat was alive and looking for food. I heard our neighbor’s children laughing as they played. I drove by Mill Pond, and it was still flowing. Obviously, the Lord still has the world in His hands and is carefully preserving life and sustaining mankind. The morning reminded me of Colossians 1:16-17, which describes Jesus Christ: “…for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (NLT).
Yes, our nation is in a bit of a mess. Hurricane Hanna left a trail of debris in south Texas. The rioting continues in cities across our nation. Parents and students are navigating through the confusing fall school schedule. The COVID-19 pandemic still surges, disrupting both health, jobs, economy and families. It has also created a deep divide in virtually every level of society.
What is the secret to peace in the midst of such upheaval? The secret to peace is faith in Jesus Christ. The One who conquered death is on His throne in heaven. He watches every bird that falls to the ground. He knows every worry that crosses your mind. He counts every hair upon your head. He knows this present world is broken by sin and will never be perfect in this present time. Jesus gladly walks with us through the brokenness of our lives – He has walked this way before.
A great Old Testament story involves King Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20. He was at war with the nations of Moab and Ammon. The people of Israel were vastly outnumbered, and the king called for a time of prayer and fasting. He prayed, “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (Vs. 6, NKJ).
He ended his prayer with, “…O our God,…we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (Vs. 20, NKJ).
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? You trust that God is in control and that He loves you. You humble yourself before God and pray. You set your eyes on the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You focus on His power and grace and not on the problem. You align your life with His will, turning from any sin in your life that hinders your fellowship with God. There are really two options when you face crisis. You can either turn to despair, or you can turn to God. Set your eyes on Jesus.