the principle of the unknown....

The Principle of the Unknown

My personal struggle always centers around what I firmly believe, or the core of my faith. I cannot stand not knowing. Ask my wife, I will often read the end of the book before I spend time reading it. I will read reviews of movies to find out the end, searching to see how it wraps up.

As a follow of Christ, we enjoy the certainty of knowing we will one day stand under His authority, in Heaven, for eternity. Scripture tells us to not worry about what we have to survive today, or to worry about tomorrow, because the external is so much more important that the temporal. But I’ll admit, that is not my day to day thinking.

While it is responsible to have future plans, it provides little value to angst of the next day. I can hardly control my own health, despite trying to eat right, and exercise, but I try to control so many other things. I worry what others think about my decisions or actions. I worry about what influence I have on my kids and what direction they will go. I worry about silly things like what the weather will be on a day when I have planned activities.

Some things I have a fleeting influence over, but some, I have zero control over. No more could I prevent the sun from coming up, than I could stop it from raining on a day with outdoor activities. But I sure worry like I could actually control it!

I’m not unique in this, the world is full of worry and anxiety. So what separates me from them? In my heart, I know not to worry and that God will provide, but the whispers of the world, quickly cloud that up. This has to be a decision made, a one of faith. A conscious one that is made daily.

When the Apostles were imprisoned and released, they didn’t stop and try to figure out a new strategy, or be anxious about it, they charged right back out there. The more I dive into scripture, the more I work to find the key to peace, the more I see my continued need to submit to His Peace. His peace is beyond what this world understands, it is something that will take us past our current situation and bring us calm.

I’ve yet to master this! I have to focus daily and I find that there are days when I look down, and see that chain with a ball of worry attached to my leg. I go to prayer. I ask for peace. I receive it daily. I need it daily.

What is your go to scripture for peace that provides the calm in the storm?