How to find peace when your world is rocked. That’s the topic of today’s Shining Like Stars guest post by Marilyn Nutter.
Don’t we need that, friend? Don’t we need to find how to restore our peace?
If you’ve ever lost hope, felt discouraged, had your peace stolen, whatever it might be, this encouragement is for you today.
How to Find Peace…When Your World is Rocked
By Marilyn Nutter
What’s rocked your world? A diagnosis, fractured friendship, blindsided by an email?
In the past week, I received texts and emails asking for prayer because peace was disrupted.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. My daughter wants nothing to do with spiritual advice. Her marriage is in trouble.”
“My son is making poor choices. He knows the right thing to do but doesn’t. It’s breaking my heart.”
“My husband lost his job four months ago. He’s sent out 100 resumes but there is no job in sight. What are we going to do? Pray for us.”
“No one will play with my daughter on the playground. She’s all alone. It’s killing me.”
Whether we use the terms annoyed, irritated, anxious, concerned, worried, or heartbroken, it boils down to one thing—lack of peace. Our life moves from a celebration to a crisis, an expectation to a disappointment, stability to worry to speculation.
We look at Facebook and feel left out. We may have regrets about a decision or conversation. Nothing is changing, or it’s changing in a direction I don’t want to go.
There is no peace.
One woman whose world was shaken is Mary, the mother of Jesus. When the angel appeared to Mary and announced she’d bear the Son of God, he told her the “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”. (Luke 1:26-38 NIV)
Frankly, I never understood why the angel didn’t say the spirit of Jehovah-Shalom-the God of peace– would come upon her. We read, “Do not be afraid.” (Luke 1:30 NIV) Surely Mary needed peace-Shalom, the God of Peace-to calm her fears.
Tweet ThisMary’s world was rocked.
Was she wondering how to explain this to her parents? She was a young teen. Would they believe her? Did she imagine the gossip? Would she be the talk of the town?
And what about Joseph? How could she tell him and what would he say? From my point of view, she needed peace. But she also needed confidence, God-confidence.
El Elyon, the Most High God — not Jehovah Shalom — was revealed to Mary in the most shocking, life-changing event of her life. She is about to take a major detour from her plans to marry Joseph, raise a family, and live a happily married life.
As a virgin, she would have a baby.
Unbelievable.
Yes a baby changes everything. Our schedules, finances, sleep, and family structure change. Our vacation venues and the kinds of restaurants we choose, change.
But Mary’s change was monumental. She was chosen to be the mother of the One who would change everything. She needed to rest confidently in God’s Sovereignty.
God’s name and with it, His character, was tailor-made for Mary’s situation, a reminder that He has everything under control.
God would handle Mary’s parents, Joseph’s response, and the town gossip. Though this young teen didn’t fully understand “what” and she didn’t know “how” or “when”, she knew Who. God was bigger than every challenge she imagined and those she didn’t know were coming.
We want to know how to find peace, if only for a few hours or a day. At any time our peace can be disturbed. More than a phone ringing when we try to take a nap, interruptions to our peace are bigger than that.
We doubt and question, “when, how, where?” Life remains unsettled and change is puzzling. The status quo is not what we want or dreamt of.
Have you received news that blindsided you? Have you wondered how, when, or what?
Mary had none of the answers to those questions. But she rested in God’s Sovereignty, when she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38 NIV)
She trusted God sees the big picture, is wiser than we are on our smartest day, and knew He loves us too much to hurt us. He acts with no mistakes, and His timetable is for our good and His glory.
Mary had God-confidence in the biggest change in her life, and with it, she had peace.
How about you?
Where are you today? Are you wondering how to find peace?
Are you struggling with disturbing news or on a path that appears to be going nowhere? Have you wondered “how, what, and when”?
Look at lessons from Mary. Take God confidence and peace, even when your world is rocked off course.
Meet Marilyn
Marilyn Nutter, of Greer, SC, is a contributor to magazines, on-line sites, and compilations. She is a Bible teacher and speaker for women’s groups and grief support groups, and serves on the women’s ministry team at her church.
Her world was rocked seven years ago, when two days before Christmas and 2,000 miles from home, her husband suffered a fatal heart attack. Her confidence in the truth of Lamentations 3: 22-23 has sustained her.
Visit Marilyn’s website to subscribe to her blog about finding extraordinary treasures in ordinary and challenging days. And follow her on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Facebook.
This post is part of the Shining Like Stars series. Read all of them here.
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This post shares common challenges we face that can rob us of peace. Marilyn, your words remind us to trust the One who knows our future. Thank you for turning our eyes to Jehovah Shalom.
What a wonderful post. Friends and I were discussing the other day how we are not promised a stress-free world, but rather the solution to help us through our stressors: Jesus Christ. Thank you for sharing this ever-timely post.
Such a beautiful reminder of where we can find true peace. Thank you for this 💕
You’re welcome Brittany. Sometimes I think the most familiar Bible stories have hidden meanings for us just when we need it. Marilyn
Always a blessing reading. Thank you for your daily inspirationals. God is definitely awesome. Living for Him and His way daily leaves room for no questions but understanding the peace that’s there despite what this world throws at us.
Blessings always Marva
Aww, thank you, Tahirah. And it’s always a blessing seeing your comments and knowing you are on the other end.
You continue to inspire me in the way you persevere through some very difficult times — always with a smile on your face!
Blessings to you, my friend.
Very encouraging article. I like it. Every Jewish woman in Mary’s day wanted to be the one that bears the Messiah.
But how does a mother watch her firstborn child leave this side of eternity and enter into the presence of God. No matter how long I live, I’ll never forget the look on my beloved Kristin’s face as she became “absent from the body, present with the Lord.” Last month, she passed away from shock. Nevertheless, the scriptures sustain me. Romans 8:28 tells us believers that “…For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them that are the called according to his purpose.” So I trust in the sovereignty of God that He had a purpose in calling my firstborn home to be with him and that when Jesus returns for his bride, the church, she will be among those that accompany him.
Oh, how my heart breaks for you, Lucille. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain but I am so encouraged by the Hope you hold out. To think that God is such a good God inspite of our pain is one of the greatest blessings.
May you continue to shine His light for others, even as you are doing now.
Bless you!
His peace is such a gift. I am glad He left it for us, only Jesus can give us true peace through His Spirit.
I agree, Rebecca. His is the kind of peace that lasts!
Blessings to you, dear friend.
A beautifully powerful post that bids you to soak in God’s peace! I have often thought of how Mary must have felt….to be carrying the Prince of Peace!
As you said that it really hit home, April. Here’s Marilyn talking about peace and using Mary as an example, the one who carried the Prince of Peace. Oh, how these little details are never missed by God.
Blessings to you!
Amen. I feel like a blossom on display after a long struggle to open when it comes to parenting. One my kids walked through a tough season, and it was hard trusting God. But it was right. Thank you for encouraging us so beautifully.
Awww, Kristi, I’m so glad you found encouragement here today. Life can be hard. Harder still as we watch our kids walk through difficult seasons. I pray you will savor God’s presence and that it will fill you up to overflowing.
Blessings in Him.
Well said ladies. Sometimes we are unable to see the whole picture, but knowing that our God is a God who lives up to His promises and His word brings more peace of mind than I can attain without Him. In giving my issue, worry, need to Him, I know He is in a better position to see the “whole” and lead me to a solution that fixes the cause more than just the near term problem.
I love your perspective, J.D. So many times I want to see the big picture, to know how things will work out. But as you rightly said, His solution is always better!
Blessings to you.
Thank you for so clearly outlining the way to peace-God confidence. Trusting the Most High is in control and is working everything out for my good and His glory. Praying for faith to trust Him fully in all circumstances and for the peace that follows.
I agree, Carlie. Remembering that even difficult circumstances are for my good AND God’s glory, helps me to find peace.
Blessings to you, my sister.