Whoever said, “The only constant in life is change” could not have possibly known about this moment in history we’re living in. Having said that, the Bible tells us, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
So, which is it? Is what we’re experiencing right now something that no one has ever experienced, or have we been down this road before?
The truth is, if you’ve never experienced something before, then it is new for you. I’ve talked with people of all ages who are saying the same thing, “We’ve never seen anything like this in our lifetime!”
Kids are not in school. Parents are not going to work. Stores and restaurants are closed. I live in the church world, and we’ve had to make possibly the greatest communication shift in generations with the move to online ministries.
Whether or not we are still in the middle of the global pandemic we’ve been living through as you are reading this, here’s what I do know: The world has changed, and people are looking for peace.
Most of us tend to be creatures of habit and routine. We enjoy the comfort it brings. Even if we may be more spontaneous in nature, most people like to have some degree of control over what’s going on. For all of us, the circumstances we’re facing right now are far from routine and are absolutely outside of our control.
So, what do we do? What is it I can offer to you in this moment we’re living through that I don’t fully understand myself?
Let me submit to you the one thing I am sure about, and please don’t take my word for it. Someone much smarter than I am wrote these words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” The apostle Paul, who was no stranger to difficult circumstances himself, wrote those words in Philippians 4:6-7.
Now, I’m confident that you’ll resonate with the “peace of God” part of these verses. That’s what we all need and want right now. The question is, will we be willing to do our part?
Believe me, I understand how difficult our part can be in all of this. How are we not supposed to be anxious about anything, when we’re bombarded with questions such as, “Will I get sick?” or Will I lose my job?”
What Paul suggests is that we replace our anxiousness with thankfulness. Have you taken a moment today to be thankful? Try it! You might find it actually does something for your worry and anxiety.
Then once you’ve been thankful, present your requests to God. I can’t stress this enough: The order here matters. Be thankful first. Then tell God what you need. (Not the other way around).
By the way, if you’re like most of us, you probably mess the order up on that all the time. But once you get the order correct, don’t quit! Keep praying!
If it’s the peace of God you seek, then don’t stop. Pray until the peace comes.
Brad LeRoy is lead pastor of Harvest Church in Mt. Comfort. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
