I don’t fully understand why life is the way it is. And I don’t know the reasons God chooses to let so many bad things happen to people. When it comes down to it, I just want to have peace in my life, and I want my family and friends to find peace too.
Because people I know are dealing with issues such as …
- A work situation that has become chaotic.
- Physical issues making each day a struggle.
- Depression that sucks the joy out of each day.
- An aging parent who has not found God.
- Finances that are strained and uncertain.
And they’re worried about their older kids who are facing …
- An uncertain future as a young and unwed mom.
- The challenges of moving back home after a divorce.
- A lingering illness that is robbing them of their youth.
- The struggles of making their own way in the world.
- Anxiety and hopelessness, with no end in sight.
Every one of the situations above is someone I know well, not random examples created to make a point. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because many other people I know are also searching for a pathway to peace.
You know many hurting people too, even though they may not talk about it.
This is life in a fallen world. Reality, not fantasy, with actual people and real pain.
Taking the First Step
When facing trials, even non-religious people know the standard church responses which sometimes come across to them as platitudes in the midst of their pain: “Yes, tough times can help shape our character. Of course, compared to eternity, trials on earth only last a short while. And we’ve all heard that bad situations sometimes produce good outcomes.”
Those things are true, and important, but they may not bring relief to those who are suffering—at least not at first.
Because first and foremost, finding true peace requires faith. Our spiritual and emotional well-being will be determined, one way or the other, by whether or not we choose to declare our personal faith in these three things:
- God is good.
- He is in control.
- I will trust him.
If we affirm those things, and mean it, we can find a pathway to peace. But our trust must be unconditional—we choose to trust God no matter what. We still may not know why bad things are happening in our lives. And we may suffer, sometimes for a while, in the process. But we can make it through, and we have assurance of a positive future.
And those so-called platitudes of the church will come alive for us: “Our character will be transformed. We will cherish the sweet promise of eternity. And we can look forward with hope to what is to come.”
The Pathway to Peace
When the way is dark, we can only move forward one step at a time. We are reminded that life is a journey, and our job is to seek the right direction using God as our guide. So we strive to make wise choices and take the next right step. And another.
To help us along the way, there are five STEPS that serve as a pathway to peace:
- Humbly Surrender ourselves to God and choose faith.
- Make good choices and allow Transformation to occur.
- Show Empathy and forgiveness in relationships with others.
- Pursue daily Progress through good habits and prayer.
- Focus beyond ourselves through acts of Service.
By doing these things each day, we can move along a pathway to peace, one step at a time. But as we take those halting steps forward, we need to remember where to keep our focus so we keep heading in the right direction.
In the book Calming the Storm Within, author Jim Lange uses Philippians (4:6-9) to remind us to “not be anxious about anything” because of the promise that “the God of peace will be with you.”
He celebrates the incredible promise in Jesus’ final words to his disciples at the Last Supper: “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.” (John 16:33)
If we have the faith to truly believe those words, we can find a pathway to peace.
