Day Thirty-One

We continue to journey through this season of Eastertide, reflecting on the wonderful gifts that are available to us as a result of the cross and the empty tomb. We have forgiveness for sin, the offer of new life, and the promise of life eternal…all available to us because of Christ’s sacrifice and his victory over death.

But even in the light of all these promises, we are not spared the trials of this world. Jesus himself proclaimed that we will face troubles in this world:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.”—John 16:33a (ESV)

But he followed that proclamation with a promise:

“But take heart; I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33b (ESV)

This is a promise we need to breathe in. We need to let it take root in our soul and allow it to transform us. Martin Luther said of these words from John 16:33, “Such a saying as this is worthy to be carried from Rome to Jerusalem on one’s knees.” It is a promise that we should never let out of our grasp.

But we do. We forget it so often. We look at the struggles in this life and so often we think they are ours alone to bear. Why do we do that?

I remember a friend who used to have a poster on their wall that said something to the effect, “Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can't handle together.” I think it’s that word “together” that we sometimes forget. We remember that God has promised to be with us through every trial, but for some of them it’s as if we barrel straight into them on our own and assume we have everything we need to conquer it.

We don’t. In fact, that’s not our job. Jesus didn’t say, “Take courage, you have overcome the world.” He said “Take courage, I have overcome the world.” He didn’t say, “In your ability to persevere you may have peace.” He said, “In me you may have peace.”

Whatever the reason we sometimes forget this important truth, there is a spiritual practice that can help us recenter when we feel the troubles of this world are too much. And it’s pretty much a single word:

STOP

When the storms of life seem overwhelming, rather than attacking them straight on we need to stop and be still. We need to stop and listen, because there is an invitation to us being spoke amidst the clamor and chaos:

Come to me.

If we’re going to know what it means to find peace, we need to center ourselves in the one who said, “In me you may have peace.” The image here is not finding peace because the trials stop. It’s of an abiding peace that comes from an abiding faith. And the one who offers that peace calls us to come to him even when the wind and waves are battering against us.

Will we stop and hear his invitation?

Come, you disconsolate, where'er you languish;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) How is God calling you to STOP in the midst of your life right now and simply dwell in his peace and presence? If you are sensing that call…close your computer (or turn off your phone) and make it a priority before reading another word.

2) What can you build into your life to abide more regularly in the peace Christ offers in the midst of storms?

3) Do you resonate with the temptation to “barrel through” difficulties and try to take care of them in your own strength? Spend some time before God relinquishing any false self-empowerment that leads you astray, and receive the peace and power that only he provides.

4) Today’s song, based on a classic hymn, contains some wonderful names and images for God:

Joy of the desolate
Light of the straying
Hope of the penitent
Comforter
Bread of life

Do any of these resonate with you today? What about them speaks to you?

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)