He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters (Psalm 23:2 NASB).
Tranquility – the quality or state of being quiet, calm and peaceful
A smooth lake, the setting sun sinking below a distant mountain, geese flying in unison above the calm, picturesque expanse.
Our hearts long for such peace, but the world can’t be the source of our tranquility. Winds will soon blow.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27 NASB).
Storms are not a surprise to our Master Planner.
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NASB).
Jesus is our Prince of Peace.
When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm (Matthew 8:23-26 NASB).
How do we avoid allowing the storms of life to disrupt our inner peace and tranquility?
Denial Doesn’t Work
Denying the gravity of the storms around me has long been my futile attempt to try and minimize the impact. The lie is that if I don’t fully feel it, it won’t affect me as much. But this reeks of duplicity and splinters integrity. What I’ve discovered is that blocking the really hard parts of life from full entry into my heart is harmful, to me and to others. It’s disingenuous.
It Minimizes the Pain of Others
The person I love the most in the world recently had some tough health issues. Because of the severity of what she was going though, she was approved for some special therapeutics to help heal her. On our way to receive the treatment, I said things which made her feel like I was minimizing what she was going through. To make matters worse, I defended myself when she told me how it hurt her.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I wasn’t willing to accept the severity of what she was going through because it would threaten the fragile, worldly “peace” I was trying to manage.
I had some time to think about it while I was waiting on her treatment.
Whenever I get defensive, this is a clue some “self” has been revealed which needs to be brought to the cross of Christ for mortification. [1]
From my journal:
Lord, why can't I swallow hard things whole? Seems I only take in what I can handle. I'm sorry. If You have set eternity in my heart, which you have, I can release ALL incoming situations into Your care. Holding any of it back, shows me I'm trying to manage my circumstances on my own.
Circumstantial Management
As I write, it also becomes apparent to me that if I try and only take in difficulties in doses, I’ve inserted myself in a role of circumstantial manager. This is extremely eye opening. Me trying to control how I take in circumstances is the very definition of striving against the wind. It places me right in the middle, trying to control the uncontrollable. How exhausting!
I become my own rock in the midst of the calm waters, disrupting the flow of God’s story for me, inserting myself where only my Savior should be.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah
(Psalm 46:1-3 NASB).
I do recognize, however, that God, in His mercy, does sometimes choose to slowly unfold the circumstances of our lives. But when things are revealed, He is there to comfort and guide when we give it all to Him.
Casting Every Care
It really comes down to my faith. Do I trust that my Loving Heavenly Father truly has my “good” in mind?
When the Bible says God is working out all things for my benefit, do I remember that this means something bigger than smooth, happy circumstances? God is at work to confirm me into the image of Christ. [2]
Do I believe God’s ultimate plan for me is not calamity, but hope? [3]
True, lasting peace and tranquility is sourced in Jesus Himself. When I cast my cares upon Him, He wants all that I’m up against, not just a portion.
It’s how it should be. Who am I to think I can manage events to try and soften the blow?
Why not give Him every bit of every care?
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you (I Peter 5:6-7 NKJV).
Challenge
Like me, have you held back fully taking in the severity of some difficult trial? Have you inserted yourself to try control how bad it really is, being a circumstantial manager?
When we do this, we are limiting ourselves from fully feeling what’s happening in our lives, hampering our ability to express deeper emotions.
Take a moment and allow the full weight of a difficult trial to enter your mind and heart. Trust the Lord to guide you through the details and to comfort you with His nearness. He is the God of all comfort. [4] He will guide you and give you the strength to endure any trouble.
Prayer
Lord, I’m so sorry. What was I thinking when I put myself in the middle trying to manage what I thought my heart could handle? You made my heart. You allow each circumstance. Please help me give every bit of every circumstance to You.
When I try and manage things again, please show me quickly so I can fully surrender whatever it is.
Thank you for a loving, forgiving wife who so often sees things I don’t have a clue about. Help me to see hard things You are showing about myself as mercies and not reasons to defend.
Please guide me to walk in newness of life, laying aside all evidences of my old way of living.
I love you so much!
Amen
[1] Romans 8:12-13
[2] Romans 8:28-29
[3] Jeremiah 29:11
[4] II Corinthians 1:3-5
Other posts in our series In The Moments:
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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