Being At Peace in a World Full of Change
Life is full of change, and many wonder how to find peace amid it. It seems that by the time we deal with one change, another arrives and steals our peace again.
I keep waiting for life to “calm down.” And yet it never has.
In the last month, I have had one of the closest people in my life pass away unexpectedly, a brother had a serious accident, and there has been another financial upheaval.
Then an election, which will bring about more change.
And I wonder how much I can take. I already work two jobs, homeschool, and am a single mom.
To the point? I’m tired. Tired of change. I want everything to stay the same until I can get my feet under me.
This may seem like whining, and it probably is. But I know that I’m not the only one.
But I remember a story my favorite teacher told a class I was in.
A king created a contest for painters to paint “peace.” Here is that story.
https://spellbinders.org/a-portrait-of-peace/
One artist chose a peaceful landscape, and everyone thought the king would choose it.
The second picture was of a mountain with a raging waterfall. But if you looked closely, you could see that a dove had made her nest in a small crevice in the Rock on a little bush.
The king chose this picture.
Here is Jack Dawson’s interpretation.
https://jackdawson.com/product/peace-in-the-midst-of-the-storm-fine-art-prints
If you look carefully, you will see the dove.
Peace isn’t when everything goes right in your life; peace is finding the calm in the chaos.
Here’s the thing. I think this is what I’m missing, what you are missing.
Life is full of change. Good and bad.
And it’s not what we know, but WHO we know.
The Bible clearly tells us that in this world, we will have “tribulation.” But it also says that HE has overcome the world.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalms 62:2
To start with, we can have peace when we know Jesus (our Rock). We are not alone; we are with our mighty God! Whatever we go through, he is standing with us.
For more on this: https://static.billygraham.org/sites/billygraham.org.uk/uploads/pro/2016/02/Printer-FriendlyStepstoPeacewithGod.pdf
Know that whatever you are going through is a season.
Right now, I’m grieving, working two jobs, and homeschooling. It’s a lot! But it will change.
My heart will heal. I’ll figure the money out. And my precious children are becoming more independent every day.
Another election will come.
What I’m going through and what you are going through is a season.
Sometimes seasons are easy, but many times they are not.
Even if you are not going through something difficult, someone around you is.
There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18
Your season, my season, will change.
Consider where you are as temporary.
In my darkest days of going through breast cancer, this was hard to see. But now that I’m out, I can see hope again.
Everything has a season.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Whatever season you are in, God will make it beautiful in his time.
Determine to stand strong during this season. Be resilient.
I’ve met resilient people. You know the ones who get knocked down but stand back up.
I want to be like that. (Please excuse me while I weep, wail, and throw a hissy fit in the mud before I get back up.)
I mean well…it just takes me a minute.
But I respect the people who can be resilient during the season they are going through.
They know they are in a season, and they know they will be able to rest later, but for now, they stay strong.
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:7
Bloom where you’re planted.
We must bloom where we are planted. I think that’s what God’s calling us to today. Wherever we are, bring peace, love, and hope.
Prayers for your journey,
Lacey
