Finding the Missing Peace of Christ

 

During this pandemic, my husband and I have spent hours hunched over jigsaw puzzles. One depicted Fallingwater, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to blend with nature. And the puzzle pieces surely did blend. We toured Fallingwater with our family to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, so that national historic landmark holds a special place in our hearts.

Jigsaw puzzles force me to pay attention to detail. But even when I do, I get things wrong. For instance, I “knew” this one piece had two ends of orange with a strip of green through the middle. I worked my way around the scattered puzzle pieces at least six times looking for that particular piece.

Guess what? When I studied the puzzle more closely, I discovered that one whole end of the piece was green, not just the middle. I had looked for the wrong color.

Isn’t that how it is with life? We hunger for peace, but too often we think the feeling of satisfaction will bring us peace. For instance, television commercials convince us we to buy a new car. But then we buy a new car, and in a month it’s a used car. It didn’t bring us the peace we sought.

That’s all because only one thing will bring us true peace, and that’s Christ Himself.

Once we achieve peace with God, all other things fall into place. At least, so they say. But how does that actually work?

Well, it takes work. So I consider, what disturbs my peace? And how do I regain it?

Physical issues. Pain, sickness, discomfort. They usually strike in the middle of the night. So I do what I can to deal with them: Take a pill. Call a doctor. Call an ambulance. It all depends on the severity. I may read an inspirational book or Psalms. And I pray.

National issues. COVID, crises, crucial issues. I feel helpless. So I do what I can to deal with them: Write an opinion piece for a newspaper. Encourage others through online devotionals. Draw strength from historical events in scripture. Kings ruled in Israel for many years. David and Solomon, godly kings, each reigned 40 years. Manasseh, an evil tyrant, reigned 55 years. Good kings. Bad kings. Yet God remained faithful to His people. And He will surely remain faithful to us regardless of national unrest.

Spiritual issues. Doubt, unrest, questioning God. So I do what I can to deal with them: First of all, I am in Christ, which gives me peace with God. I don’t just know about Christ. I don’t just read about Christ. I’ve invited Him to be Lord of my life, and I try to live for Him and represent Him well. I’ve heard being “in Christ” described like being in a room. You are either present there or not. You don’t just know about the room or read about the room. You are either there or you’re not.

And if I am in Christ, He is with me, He is for me and He sends His Holy Spirit to guide me. He may invite me to pray, to be still and know that He is God. He may guide me to encouraging passages of scripture or to a pastor or mature Christian who might answer my questions. Christ truly is the Prince of Peace.

So today, as I deal with various challenges, I will find peace by trying to pray without ceasing and looking for Christ at work in the details of life. “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).

Too Soon Oldt And Too Late Schmart

 

            One of the dumbest things I ever did was to try to flush a disposable diaper down the toilet. Hey, it was the sixties, and disposable diapers had just come on the market.

            Of course the toilet overflowed. And of course I knew not how to stop the rising water in the toilet bowl, which ruined the paint on the kitchen ceiling below. Fortunately, Mrs. Heckert was an understanding landlady.

            Now you may wonder how I could have done something so stupid. Well, I simply did not know. And there’s a lot more I don’t know . . . about God and the world and life in general.

            For instance, I don’t know what happens when I ask my phone a question and a woman immediately answers. Where is this woman? How does she look up the answer so fast?

I don’t know how email messages fly around the world in seconds. I don’t know how hummingbirds fly thousands of miles flapping their little wings. Do they ever get tired? I don’t know how sheep know the voice of their shepherd. I don’t know how COVID began.

            But there are some things I do know, and with that knowledge, I live my life.

            --I know God gives me friends to support me on my journey, and I appreciate them.

--I know that God helps people survive all kinds of challenges. They suffer. But God is faithful to them. And He will be faithful to me.

            --I know Jesus heals our hurts, and we pass on His comfort to others.

--I know that when discouraged I can to look back to see where God has been faithful in the past. That helps me trust Him in the present.

            --I know God created the world and everything in it—including me. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NLT). Look up at the stars on a clear night. Consider the way a human body works. How could things so complex happen without a Creator?

-- I know Christ came to live and die to fulfill the demands of a perfect God to sacrifice a perfect life. Only when we accept Christ’s holiness are we fit enough for heaven.

--I know God numbered our days. The death rate is 100 percent. So I want my life to be well lived—and ready for heaven.

So, like that Pennsylvania Dutch saying in the title (we get old too soon and smart too late), I do my best to live my life in tune with Jesus as my Savior, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and knowing our Triune God is on His throne. And I trust Him. Even when I do dumb things.