John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Hopefully as followers of Christ we have all experienced the peace that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus. But there are other real difficult situations where it is harder to find peace. In theory peace is always available for everyone in every circumstance. In practice finding peace during chronic illness, death, divorce, phobias, financial disaster, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, loneliness, or during verbal, emotional, or physical abuse is often much more difficult than in theory. God has never promised us that we would never have pain, suffering and problems. In fact without pain, suffering and problems we would never appreciate the joy of peace. Here are some suggestions for finding peace in the midst of suffering by June Hunt from “Hope For The Heart Biblical Counseling Keys” © 2005 by Hope For The Heart.
Receive the compassion of God.
• God understands your pain.
• God is aware of your needs and weaknesses.
• God loves you even more than you may love your own children.
• God’s compassion never fails.
Leave the past in the past.
• Don’t play the “blame game.”
• Don’t rehearse the “what if’s.”
• Don’t try to figure out what went wrong.
• Don’t assume responsibility for other people’s choices.
Entrust the future to God.
• God is the God of a second chance.
• God has a timetable different from mine.
• God is working continually.
• God has all the resources He needs to accomplish His purposes.
Exchange your pain for God’s peace.
• Choose to trust in God’s goodness.
• Choose to rely on God’s faithfulness.
• Choose to believe in God’s involvement.
• Choose to live in God’s presence.
Share some of the heartbreaks this world has inflicted upon you? Compare the peace you have found in Christ with the pain this world has caused you to suffer?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 24, 2009 10:24 PM
About Me
- Tamara Storie
- Listening to the quiet is rare at my house. With five children and a small zoo life often has a way of getting loud and crazy. One small moment in time goes like this... Someone drops the pancakes on the floor, the dog thinks its in doggy heaven, another someone is yelling that the dog is eating breakfast while someone else is trying to save breakfast for the humans in the house. My goal is to take the "moments" in life, look through the eyes of the heart to see the lessons God wants to teach. I hope you will share with me your moments and lessons as well.
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