In my first posting I started with a visual
activity I asked you to take part in. In this post I want to also begin with
the same activity, but instead I want to expand a little bit more. Last time I
had you picture in your mind a visual image of something red. In it there were
no known dimensions, no measurements of volume, weight or mass. In fact,
everyone’s image probably looked very different. Perhaps your shade of red was
different than mine, or perhaps your red image was the size of a Polaroid
picture whereas mine was the size of a sticky note. I described even further that a ribbon of
Green surrounded this red image; that it was located upon a marble larger than
a basketball. I did not however, tell you where upon this marble it was
located, in fact, I neither told you the shade of green this ribbon was
composed of nor did I tell you the proximity of the red image to the ribbon of
green. In your mind, you probably began piecing together this red image with a
bordering Ribbon of Green, but what if I
were to tell you this Ribbon of Green is nowhere close to the red image, what
would you picture in your mind now? Would you not then ask for a better image,
would not ask for me to begin describing what else is out there besides this
red image and this ribbon of green? You might even ask, how large is this
marble upon which this red perspective and ribbon of Green are contained? If
perhaps at this point you would like me to explain my reasoning for this, well
again, I will leave you to open your mind to what I have described but with no
explanation. This month’s posting will cover the topic of PEACE so let’s begin.
As-salam Alaykum
“Now may the
Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in
every way. The Lord be
with all of you” – II Thessalonians 2:16
In case you are unfamiliar
with the title of this section, these words (As-Salam Alaykum) are for the
Arabic greeting which means ‘Peace be with you’ or in some cases ‘Peace with
you.’ When you hear those words, what comes to mind? I don’t mean in reference
to the Arabic version but simply the words ‘Peace with you.’ For me what comes
to mind is the peace in knowing who God is and knowing that he guides me every
day; that he is with me always even went I do not acknowledge him. My hope in
this section is that I am able to outline what PEACE is and how it should be
defined. I find it extremely difficult to put into words what exactly Peace is.
I have found in my studies and through my own experiences that peace is best
understood through examples. Thus, I will begin with my favorite story in the
entire Bible; the story of Shadrach, Abednego, and Meshach. For the time being
we shall refer to them as SAM.
This story can
probably be used to describe and exemplify many aspects of faith, but for me this
story is one of peace. For your own reference and reading, this story is
located in the Book of Daniel, specifically in chapter 3. During this time the
nation of Judah, which was the split Kingdom of Israel at the time, was taken
over by a King who went by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. We’ll call him Nezzy for
now. In Chapter 3, Nezzy built a structure made of gold that was ninety feet
high and ninety feet wide, which is absolutely ridiculous if ask me but then
again he didn’t have video games to occupy himself with so why not. Upon the
building of this structure or statue, he then required all of the nations in
which he had conquered to bow down and worship it when they heard any form of
music. If one person or nation chose not to, they would be thrown into a
blazing furnace without question. So it was basically a situation of life and
death. Of course when you think about it, despite being a life and death
situation, it would’ve been pretty simple just to get on your knees and pretend
you were worshipping right? Well not for SAM. These men refused to bow down and
worship this structure and when this happened several times, they were brought
before the King and he demanded them to do what he had commanded. It says in
the text that the King was furious and he threatened to throw SAM into the
furnace. “But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into
a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
–Verse 15. The following verses in this text are perhaps some of the
strongest verses in the entire bible. For SAM did not respond with ‘Our God
WILL save us,’ they did not boast nor brag that God would deliver them, but
instead they said:
16- “O Nezzy,
we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17-If we are
thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is ABLE to save us
from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King, (probably said in a very
sarcastic tone). 18- But EVEN IF he does not, we want you to know, O
King, (again with the sarcastic tone) we will not serve your gods or worship
the image of gold you have set up.”
At that point,
Nezzy went on a tantrum and ordered the furnace 7 times hotter than usual. As a
result, the men who carried SAM were burnt up as they stepped near the furnace.
Of course SAM not only survived the furnace, but Nezzy claimed to see a 4th
person walking in the fire with them; some people claim it was the Angel of the
Lord whereas others will say it was Jesus himself. We won’t get into that
discussion now, but what happened was, SAM then walked out of the fire and
Nezzy praised God for His deliverance of the 3 men. At this point I could write
pages of analysis of this story, but for the sake of the topic, we will focus
on verses 16-18. Reading this passage and finding out the men were saved can sometimes
take away from the best part of this story; the fact that SAM was facing
ultimate death and they knew that God was able to save them, but that he might not actually save them. The
attitude of SAM blows my mind. I spent my whole life in Church being taught
that God will never abandon you, that he will always rescue you, but when I
read those verses it really hit me for the first time that God does not have to
rescue me. God would have still been God had he not saved SAM from the fiery
furnace. He did not rescue those men to defend and prove himself against Nezzy,
but instead he saved them to Honor them for their faith; for the peace they had
in their heart. It was when I read this story in its full length that I finally
began to understand true peace. I realized that Peace is the constant, the
order amidst chaos. Peace is what holds you steadfast when your world is
crumbling but also when things are in perfect shape. Peace is essentially the
realization that you are not in control and that God governs this world and
your soul. Peace is knowing it’s not about you and being okay with that. Of
course, the story of SAM and the fiery furnace is one of many examples in the
Bible. For the next example, I will use a story that is less common but still
just as powerful. The story of Gideon.
“And
the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
In the days of
Gideon, the nation of Israel had turned away from God. The Lord had allowed them to be taken over by
a ruthless people called the Midianites. After Israel had turned back to God,
he called up Gideon to be their next leader and their judge. Gideon was from
the smallest tribe in all of Israel and God had told Gideon he would deliver
the Midianites into Israel’s hands through Gideon’s leadership. Gideon of
course did not believe this was possible, for he did not believe he had the
strength and knowledge to do so. In fact, the Angel of the Lord appeared to
Gideon and said to him “Peace! Do not
be afraid. You are not going to die.” I believe the Angel said Peace for that is exactly the opposite
way a person would feel if they were told to go to war; to risk their lives for
a people that did not deserve to be forgiven.
Right before
Gideon was to go into battle he decided to ask God if his plan was really for
him to deliver this army into Gideon’s hands. In doing so, he placed a wool
fleece on the ground and asked that in the morning, the fleece would be wet
with dew and the ground dry. If the fleece were wet and the ground dry, he
would know that God’s will is for him to come out victorious. The next day, the
fleece was so wet he wrung it out and filled an entire bowl of water. But
Gideon requested one more time and said to the Lord “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me
one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground
covered with dew.” And that night God made the fleece dry and the
ground covered with dew. Then it was time to go to battle. Upon the eve of battle, the Lord reduced the
number of men several times until they had only 300 left. He did this so that
the men could not boast in their victory based upon their number. Of course,
the 300 men were faced against an army which could not be counted, “their camels could no more be counted than
the sand on the seashore.” –Judges 7:12. Gideon broke the men into
three companies and gave them trumpets and jars…now just think about that for a
second… Trumpets and Jars?!? Seriously?! Well, God knew what he was doing. When
the men blew their trumpets and broke their jars, all men of the opposing army
turned and fled, in fact, some of them turned on each other.
This is
obviously an abbreviated version of this story, again, I could write pages of
analysis but for now we will stick to the central theme beginning with the
words of the Angel (reference – Judges 6 and 7). I don’t imagine I would be
very confident going into this battle; a small man from a small village with
300 men against a fleet and having to do so with trumpets and Jars. Is it safe
to say that having a peaceful heart seems like an impossible task at this time?
I wouldn’t argue. But here is what I want to say, Gideon struggled with it like
many of us. He asked the Lord to confirm multiple times and was even told to be
at peace by an Angel…I mean c’mon, what else do you need right? How similar is
that to us…to me. To be at peace does not mean that life is grand, it does not
mean that you are radiating with happiness but instead, it is in the knowing of
who God is and allowing that to eliminate your fear. I don’t imagine that
Gideon was without fear going into battle, but more importantly, he believed in
God’s will which gave him peace and trumped his fear. I imagine it was similar
for SAM in the fiery furnace. I wouldn’t imagine they were celebrating and
filled with Joy heading to the furnace, in fact, they might have been weeping
and most likely terrified…but above all, they were at Peace in knowing God was
with them.
How is Peace attainable?
“For
as high as the Heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who
Fear him.” Psalm 103:11
For me, peace
is something I struggle with daily. I stand facing some of the greatest
challenges I have ever faced in my life and with no idea of the outcome. I have
continually relied on the peace in knowing that God has a plan for me, but at
the same time, I also know that he does not have to save me. One of the most
talked about and an overused verse in the bible is Jeremiah 29:11. 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.”
When
most people read this verse, including myself, we always focus on the YOU part.
But let me tell you…this verse could read “For I know the plans I have PERIOD!”
When you realize that God does not have to include you in on his plans, that he
chooses to do so, you will then fear him. Not fear as in afraid, but respect in
knowing that the rest of that verse doesn’t have to include you. If God so
wanted, he could erase you from existence…and I don’t mean something simple as
death, but he could wipe your memory from this earth. Meaning your parents and
friends would have never known you; however, he is a God of love. He WANTS to
be a part of your life; He desires it beyond anything he has created. When you
realize that, your heart can be a peace. It’s humbling in all honesty. That is
the first step in attaining peace, to humble yourself and realize this…IT’S NOT
ABOUT YOU! You might ask, well what about the times when things don’t go very
well, or when life is in turmoil? Well first I would say, read my last posting,
but I would also say that peace is not based upon the circumstance or situation
that you face, it is an unwavering state of being. You are either at peace or
you are not. Now even though I said that being at peace begins with humility, I
will also say it does not end there.
In order to be
at peace, you must also learn to master your pride, your worry/anxiety and your
fear. These three can be combated in three ways, by being faithful, by
trusting, and putting your hope in the Lord. Faith is knowing that God is able,
trusting is allowing God to take control, and hoping is believing in the
outcome he has set forth and not the one you want. These three consist of peace;
it is the substance of peace. When you know God is able but that he does not
have to, you have faith. When you let go of your false sense of security,
whether in people, objects, money, whatever it is, you will feel some
resistance and a little out of control; however, that is what it means to
trust. And Hope, well…it’s a dangerous game.
Hope can be the most devastating form of peace if it is invested in the wrong
thing or the wrong person. When your hope is placed in the Lord, you will rest
easy. In my life I’m not sure what job or career I will have in a few months.
I’m not even sure if I’ll make enough money to pay back my student loans, or whether or not I will
receive help from parents. I have no idea if I’ll ever meet the right girl or
end up alone…but again I remind myself, He did not bring me to this point only
to leave me hanging. It truly brings me peace to know that I am fully relying
on God but I cannot be at peace until I realize I am. As long as I have a
purpose on this earth, I will be provided for and taken care of. I have faith
that He will provide but I also know he does not have to, thus, I fear him. I
trust that he will not allow me to rely on people, money, women, my own
knowledge or “wisdom.” And I hope that he will provide for me in such a way
that I will prosper. And when I say prosper, I mean in the form in which I am
sharing my beliefs and my life with others. If you notice, FAITH, TRUST, and
HOPE are all forms of actions, whereas Peace, is a state of being. You can’t
Peace someone, or peace yourself. Like I said before, you are either at peace
or you are not. If one or all of these three components are missing, meaning if
you have no faith, or if you do not trust, or if you have no hope, then my friends,
you cannot be at peace nor will you ever be at peace.
Chicken Soup
for the Peaceful Soul
I really do believe that Pride,
worry/anxiety, and fear parallel the components of Peace. When you are consumed
with fear you have a difficult time putting your faith in the Lord. When you
are filled with pride, you have a difficult time relinquishing control. And
when you worry or feel anxious you lose hope. I don’t believe there is a person
on this planet that can say they have never struggled with one or all three of
these things. SAM had faith, they knew God was able; they trusted that the Lord
would provide and they hoped he would save them. Gideon worried, yes he did. He
questioned, yes he did. He was nervous before battle, yes he was. But Gideon
just like SAM, had faith, he trusted, and he hoped. He was at peace. My goal in
this section is to provide you with a remedy and plan to battle your lack of
faith, your lack of trust, and your lack of hope. I do want to clarify that
although I am able to describe, write about, and help you understand peace, it
does not mean I have all the answers or that I myself am at peace at all times.
Like I said before, I struggle just as you do. What may be the difference
between you and I, is simply the effort to overcome adversity and be at peace.
There are 5 different areas I want to address that you should use to begin
within your journey to be at peace.
1.) Take
care of your responsibilities. Control what you can control. Do not take on
more than you are supposed to. Pay your bills, do your homework, and keep your
attitude positive.
2.) Have
a grateful heart. Do not lose sight of those you love and those who love you.
Find what brings you Joy and do not lose sight of that. And never take for
granted what God has given you.
3.) Do
the right thing no matter what. If you waiver on a decision, follow your heart.
It is better to suffer for doing the right thing as opposed to what is wrong.
4.) Surround
yourselves with the right people, the right support group. Join a church, get
involved and find someone to hold you accountable. This area is probably the
most difficult, especially within our society and the way people are always
tearing each other down.
5.) Pray
to God. This is the most important of all the rest. Speak to him directly, do
not let any person or thing come between the direct line of communication you
have with God. This is done first by establishing a relationship with Jesus.
I realize that to be at peace with everything
in your life is nearly impossible so start with one thing; begin with one major
thing in your life you are not at peace about. Start by writing it down. Write
down want you want and have faith God can deliver that to you, but also know
that he might not and that he doesn’t have to. The next step is to trust that
it is not your doing, know that he is in control of it. And lastly, you should Hope
that whatever he has in store for you will allow you to prosper in such a way
that you are impacting others; for if your life has no impact, then I ask
you…what’s the point?
Peace Out!
The title of this section is probably a little
sacrilegious based on what I am going to talk about in this section, but God
has a sense of humor right? Well I titled this as PEACE OUT because of what
Jesus said to his disciples before he was to go to the cross. Refer to John 14:
25-27 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But
the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will
teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
In this text, Jesus is speaking to his disciples; the
men he called to leave their lives and follow him. He was their shepherd, their
teacher, their mentor, their guide and he was talking about leaving. In all
honesty, they were probably confused, terrified, and heartbroken; consumed with
fear, doubt, worry. Of all the words he could have said, he said I leave you
with Peace, my peace I give to you. He said this because after all the time he
spent with them, he was confident in all of them to carry out his ministry, but
he did not want them to be afraid. In verse 25 he said the Holy Spirit will
come in his name. He was trying to tell them, he would be with them in spirit
and he would never be gone from their hearts. It wasn’t until later, in chapter
16 specifically, when the disciples finally understood what was going on. Jesus
said starting with verse 31:
“You believe at last! But a time is
coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You
will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 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.”
I chose to add this section and these verses because
after all I have written about and despite the examples and verses I have
presented to you, the most important thing I want for you to take from this is
that we cannot have peace without Jesus. There is no greater peace on Earth
than the peace Jesus exemplified when he went to the cross. Jesus was left to
rely solely on God’s plan. His disciples and friends left him, just as he
predicted; however, his heart was filled with Peace in knowing that his Father,
his Lord, had not left him. That is Peace!!! The whole world, everyone who has
lived, is living, and will live will turn their backs on God. We will all fail,
and have failed. We will all lose faith and not be able to trust. We will pride
ourselves day after day and we will continually lose hope, but God has never
given up on your soul. Jesus didn’t die from his wounds or from the loss of
blood, for there’s much evidence to support that he should have. But instead,
Jesus took his own life. He committed his own spirit into the hands of God. And
this was completed so that you could have a relationship with Him. The example Jesus
set forth is beyond our comprehension, to continually be at peace, and to have
faith, trust and hope at all times is insane to think about. It is a daily
devotion, a full commitment. And the greatness of that is that if/when we do fail…God
is still there, waiting for us with open arms.
I am choosing to end this post with an excerpt from
one of my favorite books; a book by the title “A Table in the Presence.” It was
written by a military Chaplain by the name of Lt. Carey H. Cash, who joined the
first battalion to go into Iraq in 2003. It’s easy for me to use biblical
examples to help me make my point, but if you would like to read something with
some modern day examples, modern day biblical stories in my opinion; I urge you
to read this book. Here is one excerpt from this book:
“It
had only been ten days since we had crossed the line of departure into Iraq,
and already the men of First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment had witnessed the
grim sights of war; had known fear and trepidation of being in a dangerous
land; had experienced the heartbreaking sorrow of loss and the ache of human
suffering. All around us lay ruin and desolation, rubble, and a scarred
landscape inhabited by men and women, boys and girls, desperate to believe a
better day would come. And yet, despite the reality of the world we looked out
upon, God was quietly but powerfully revealing another world- a kingdom that
would have no end; a kingdom that cannot be thwarted by death, disease,
ruination, and the machinations of men. It’s a kingdom built not with human
hands, but built by the Spirit of God and forged upon the anvil of faith within
the hearts of men.
The longing that I had seen in the
life of Eli Schlueter (man from the company) was a parable of the longing that
was sweeping the hearts and minds of our Marines. With tears in their eyes,
they came. They came to hear God’s word, to receive Holy Communion, to pray for
their brethren. They came to see a deeper reality shining through the reality
of bullets and death and destruction. And God, who honors the simple faith of
our most elementary steps toward Him, met us. He met us with the comfort of His
Holy Spirit and the abiding peace of his Presence. Peace amidst War. After
Schlueter’s dramatic baptism, I remember thinking, The audacity of it all!! Peace amidst war.” –Lt. Carey H. Cash.
Tune in next
time!
I would like to thank each and every person who has
chosen to read my extremely long blog. I apologize for publishing this a week
late, but I will do my best to cover the topics in a timely fashion and have
the next one posted in a month. If there is anything I have made unclear please
feel free to contact me. I have done the best I can to help you understand both
Suffering and Peace at this time. This journey however, isn’t complete and
probably never will be. I
challenge you to read, to listen, to experience, to discuss, and to live the
things I have written about.
References
Daniel
3-The fiery Furnace
Judges
6 & 7-The story of Gideon
John
14 & 16-Jesus leaves in peace
A
Table in the Presence by-Strongly recommend reading the entire book.
Psalm
46:10-Title of post
