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By Rev Don Rivers
When was the last time you sat down and relaxed, I mean really relaxed? You let the things of the day slip from your mind, your worry, anxiety, stress just melt away, calmed by the assurance that your life was in good hands, the hands of Jesus. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Where do we think peace comes from? A win at the track, a great effort by the pit crew, a well-run race. We think peace equals happiness, when I am happy, I will be peaceful. I don’t think that is quite it. Happiness is a moving target, there is always something more, something else we feel we need to be truly happy. When we attain that thing, for a brief time, we are “happy”, then our mind starts to wander and our heart starts to pine for something new, something different.
Being at peace is not something we can make happen. We can try to stop doing things and stop going here and there, but the truth be told our insides are still churning. We are in constant motion searching, thinking, wanting, trying, activity that is difficult to stop. Being that way is a product of our environment. We have been taught that we have to make things happen, we have to be on the ball, we have to be one step ahead, we need to figure it out. That is not true.
Effort and doing our very best are important and extremely significant in our life. We miss the mark though when we think we can make things happen that are beneficial for our life. We cannot control the things that happen to us. We think we can, but in reality, everyone else out there is doing the same thing. We collide like ping pong balls in a lottery machine and only one makes it up the chute.
Our thinking needs adjustment. We base peace on a state of contentment, an emotion. We think we attain peace when we have given our best effort and are satisfied with the result. That type of peace is fleeting. That type of peace only exists when things go the way we plan and meet our expectations.
True peace comes from one source, Jesus Christ. Peace is a confidence, an assurance that the person we have placed our trust and faith in is capable of handling whatever life throws at us. True peace comes when we surrender control and follow the lead of Christ. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He also knows what is beneficial for us. He can be trusted with our lives. When we do that, we can then be at peace.
Think of it this way, when we need help you go to someone who we think knows more about the situation that we do. We put our trust and confidence in them to solve the problem. There is a degree of peace we receive when we know someone who is capable has the situation under control. When that proves true, we relax, for a short time.
Conversely, when we trust someone and they prove they are not capable we are disappointed. We lose faith and trust. We struggle with finding someone else to help us. We try to handle it ourselves; we try to be independent.
Both situations lead us away from true peace. They lead us to putting our trust and faith in someone who is not able to handle the challenges we face. Whether it is ourselves or someone else, there is no one on this earth that can offer us true peace. There will always be doubt. And with doubt comes worry. And with worry comes anxiety. And with anxiety comes failure. And none of that leads to peace.
Jesus said in John’s Gospel
John 16:33; “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.”
“IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE”
Peace is found in no one else. Jesus knows the challenges we face; he knows the temptation. He also knows what is in store for us tomorrow. He not only knows the future; he holds it in his hand.
“BUT TAKE HEART, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD”
Jesus has been there and conquered the thing we fear most, death. He has overcome the day to day challenges we face. He knows the things we need and the things that are beneficial to living the best life possible. He is the creator of life itself.
We not only have hope in Christ, we also can find peace in Christ; a peace that when the whole world is crumbling around us will stand firm. A peace that we don’t understand, but a peace that will allow us to be free from worry, free from anxiety and free from guilt.
This Christmas season we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, don’t allow the world to swallow you up running from here to there trying to find happiness. It is not happiness that we need, it is peace, a peace that only Christ can provide.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
