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Over the last few weeks I have heard a lot of theories. There have been some very positive conversations and some conspiracy theories; some are just not true and some sound good, but after thinking about it, I’ll rethink and say, “wait a minute that’s not right”.
Then in an email I received from a seminary I take continuing education course from, the first line read: “Don’t let the world teach you theology.” Michael Easley has said this often. This warning especially deserves attention as we are in a season of many interruptions, the war in Lebanon is raging, natural disasters here in the USA etc. all these events and other events have caught my attention recently as I have talked to many people. Even in good times, the world preaches a “sermon” of anxiety and worry and today it seems to me that more Christians are worried and full of anxiety. To be honest this is concerning to me.
So how should you and I respond to to unexpected events taking place around us? The answer for those of us as followers of Jesus is, we must choose peace right where we are.
We live in a fallen world so we are not operating as we should be. We are not bent this way because every day, we encounter the reality of a broken world. The world we live in is not as Christ intended it to be. Disruptions of various kinds may upset our peace. Hurricane Helene and Milton come, or war comes, and our “peace” is interrupted. Our relationships aren’t always as they should be. We may experience anxiety due to our materialistic and fast-paced culture in which we must adjust to and live, is not easy and anxiety takes over and then peace departs.
As a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwelling you, gives you and I the power to choose peace (Romans 8:6). I love the scripture where Paul shares with the Philippians (Chapter 1:12-29) that had to choose to have this kind of attitude in order to achieve “peace”. Its true, I have proven it; life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.
In fact, throughout the Bible, God invites us to rest in Him and His truth even when the world seems to be falling apart, or our personal lives are rocked by some big, unexpected event. God gives us a road map for a peace that overcomes in the midst of our storms. Lean into Jesus the author of our faith, during these times.
Tom Atema
Co-Founder of Heart for Lebanon
