Anchored In Peace

Do you ever find yourself in moments where you’re striving to be brave, yet the weight of anxiety feels overwhelming, making peace just out of reach?

I had to get some annual bloodwork drawn this morning, and I honestly thought about canceling the appointment and running the other way instead. The thought of facing yet another healthcare facility triggered a wave of anxiety, as I remembered the traumatic experiences from the past months. Ever since my son had his health crisis this past winter, healthcare facilities have consistently brought panic and fear to me. I couldn’t even go near them after my son got out of the hospital. But today, I knew I had to face my fear and get the bloodwork drawn, not just for my own health but also as a step towards believing God is with me and He is healing me of the trauma we endured. It felt like a monumental task, one that symbolized not just a routine medical procedure, but a battle against the overwhelming dread that had lingered since January.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I kept telling myself, “You can do this. God is with you.” Each time the words echoed in my mind, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. The moment I stepped out of the car, my heart raced with anxious thoughts, but I focused on the reassuring promise of God’s presence. And guess what? I did it. Although the anxiety was building, there were no panic attacks, and a victory was won this day. God’s presence embraced me and I was able to rest in Him.

Finding Strength in Rest

God repeatedly asks us to put our trust in Him and find rest, yet, for some of us, it is a constant struggle. Our minds like to go into overdrive when trials come causing us to think about worst-case scenarios instead of thinking about the victories God wants to bestow upon us.

Psalm 37:7 says:

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.”

As I think about this verse, a question begins to arise: How can we find peace in the middle of uncertainty? How do you wait without getting anxious? Could the answers lie in our unwavering faith in God’s care, regardless of our circumstances?

Most of us don’t like uncertainty. We like stability and having things planned out to avoid any surprises. But what happens when those surprises come anyway? How do we respond to them? Do we become anxious and run to the phone, or do we become humble and run to the throne?

The Lord tells us to rest in Him. How do we do this? By surrendering our wills and our desires to him, trusting that He has everything under control and He will see us through our difficulties.

Only by resting in God can our strength be renewed. In moments of quietness and prayer, we discover a deep reservoir of peace that empowers us to face adversity with courage and strength.

God’s Strength is Made Perfect in your Weakness

God doesn’t want us to be worried and anxious about what tomorrow holds. He doesn’t want us to carry the heavy burden of stress and anxiety about a health issue, a wayward child, a financial struggle or a struggling relationship. He wants us to rest in Him and be confident knowing He will work everything out for our good in His perfect timing. Romans 8:28 says that “God will work all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Even though we understand God’s promises to work all things for good, it is sometimes difficult to release our worries. But thankfully, God’s perfect love knows our struggles and our weaknesses intimately. And He provides strength when we feel frail.

In our weakest moments, He is there holding us close to His heart.

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV says:

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Maybe the whole reason God wants us to learn to wait and rest in Him is because it is the only way our strength can be renewed. Worldly things fade away and don’t lend a lasting peace. But God ‘s ways are perfect. He knows how we are created, and He knows that we were not created to hold onto stress the way we do. How many mental and physical problems could we avoid by learning to rest in God?

Gaining Peace Through Trust

I am reminded of a childhood game where trust was tested. One person had to blindly fall backwards, relying on the others to catch their fall.

Most of the time, we trust our friends to catch us and the game goes on. There was, however, a time we played this game with our youth group where my husband and I were Youth Pastors and he was making a point before we started the game. The girl thought he was ready and decides at that moment to fall back before my husband finished his point and he missed catching her. She fell flat on the ground. When we saw that she was not hurt, we all laughed and it became the joke of the youth group.

If we can place this much trust in our friends, why do we find it difficult to place our trust in our Heavenly Father who will never drop us? Isn’t He the One who fashioned us and formed us? Our weaknesses, pains, heartaches, and fears are all known to Him. He is aware of every tear we cry. Psalm 56:8 says: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

If God knows us intimately, we shouldn’t have a difficult time trusting Him. His love for us is unfathomable. If we could begin to grasp how fully loved and known by Him we are, peace would flow in and out of us which, in turn, will change our perspectives and our thinking.

Gaining Peace Through Jesus

Matthew 11:28 says:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus is the answer for everything we will ever experience in life. He says to come to Him and exchange our heavy burdens for His light burden. We will then be able to find the rest we longingly desire.

When we try to control our circumstances, we labor in vain. We begin to struggle with the heavy weight we have placed upon ourselves because we failed to release our burden over to God. Jesus is asking us to come to Him and find rest in Him. He wants to take our burdens and struggles so we don’t have to go through life weighted down by the cares of this world. As we begin to let go of our wills and surrender our burdens upon Jesus, His strength will fill our body and mind and, in return, give us hope and peace.

Conclusion

We frequently attempt to shoulder life’s burdens alone. Oftentimes, we sacrifice the peace God wants to provide. He yearns to help us in our weaknesses and our everyday challenges.

Begin resting in Him today. Give Him your health, your children, your grandchildren, your finances and your relationships. Fully rely on God and place complete trust in Him being confidant that He will help you and strengthen you.

As you surrender every care over to Him, letting go of worries and anxieties, and deeply understand how much you are loved unconditionally, you will find the strength and peace you are truly seeking.