Peace in Chaos

Personally, I have not watched the news or “mainstream media” on a regular basis since my first year of college.  After the September 11th terrorist attacks, I kind of unofficially decided I didn’t want to watch the news.  It seemed like there was nothing good on the news and I didn’t want to fill my head with bad news.  Sadly, bad news comes to you anyways.  We live in a world marred by sin.  Whether it is friends gathered and discussing politics and policies or a doctor telling you there is nothing further that they can do, bad news will find us.  Sometimes it feels overwhelming.  While not watching the news may have limited the bad news, it did not close me off from it completely.  It’s hard to hear about riots or health and safety concerns without being a bit worried about the future.  Thankfully, it is not all bad news!

I serve a living God who has saved his people from sin and death.  When faced with the bad news of sin, I can turn to the good news of Christ’s saving work on the cross.  Jesus came to earth to save sinners.  He lived the perfect life that I could not, took the punishment for my sin by dying on the cross, and rose from the grave, defeating sin and death!  Jesus tells us in a parable in John 10:9-10, “I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  Scripture doesn’t hide the fact that the Christian life is not an easy one.  However, I do not have to fear death and God’s wrath.  I have salvation and abundant life in Jesus! 

I serve an omniscient God that knows what is happening.  Nothing happens that God doesn’t know about.  In fact, he planned for it!  Jesus, speaking to his disciples, in Matthew 6:25-34 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?...Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  God knows what we need.  He knows what will happen and what we will need even before we know what we need.  God is not surprised by diseases, riots, or elections.  Jesus lived on this earth as a human.  He knows what kind of struggles we face, whether big or small.  He understands that which we fear and doubt.  God has a plan to care for me, even when there are circumstances I don’t understand.  When I don’t know what to do, I can trust that God already has his plan in action.

I serve an omnipotent God who is actively involved in his creation.  God not only knows what is happening, it is part of his plan.  The above verses in Matthew isn’t God just telling us not to be anxious.  It is God explaining that he knows our needs, and we need to trust that he is all we need.  God will provide for his people.  God is even in control of governments.  We can pray for our government leaders knowing that they were placed there by God according to his will and for his purpose.  Romans 13:1-2, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”  Even if you disagree with authorities, you are still instructed to be subject to them as God’s appointed.  God, in his wisdom, has not revealed his whole plan to us.  However, he has revealed his character to us, and we can know that God is righteous, just, good, gracious, and merciful.  We can know that he is concerned about his people.  I trust that what God is doing is for my good and for his glory, even if I don’t understand it.

While I don’t read newspapers or watch the news, I do still get bits of news from social media and discussions with friends.  I do not live oblivious to the world around me (as tempting as that sounds sometimes).  I do, however, have peace.  I am not worried about the world where my kids will grow up.  I have confidence knowing that my kids will grow up in a world made by God, controlled by God’s sovereign will, and under the authority of its Creator.  Two of my favorite songs express the certainty and peace that can be found in trusting God no matter what circumstances we face: It Is Well With My Soul, written by Horatio Spafford, and Because He Lives, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  God is alive and in sovereign control of his universe.  I may face circumstances or trials that are too much and I cannot overcome.  God may give me something that I cannot handle, but “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)