Biblical Answer

Can I ever find peace and calm again?

The Problem of Turbulence in Life

If you're severely troubled right now, afraid and confused by the waves and turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life, you're not alone. Many people struggle to find peace and calm in the midst of chaos. I recall a time when I was overwhelmed with anxiety about my son's well-being, and I felt like I couldn't keep a twenty-four-hour watch on him. I cried out to God, asking how I could ever have peace. Over the next few weeks, God spoke to my heart about the importance of trust and obedience in times of turmoil. He reminded me that peace often accompanies obedience to divine guidance, but it doesn't mean we'll feel good about it when it conflicts with our natural desires.

The Source of Peace

While peace may seem elusive, it's not impossible to find. The Bible teaches that peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it's a gift from God (Romans 5:1). When we turn to Christ in faith, we have peace with God and a clear conscience (Romans 5:1). However, we're not guaranteed to have complete peace in all our relationships at all times (Matthew 10:34). The true crisis of peace is not external, but internal. It's a crisis of the will, where we deliberately and recklessly abandon everything. This can happen many times, but it amounts to nothing. The true source of peace is not found in our circumstances, but in our relationship with God.

Experiencing Peace

So, how can we experience peace in the midst of turmoil? First, we must recognize that prayer is one of the places our heart is revealed. If we can meditate on the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and make it our own, it's evidence that we're putting up a good fight against lingering anger. Second, we must learn to trust God's sovereignty and guidance. We must recognize that God is not the author of chaos, but the One who brings order out of chaos (Job 38:1-7). Finally, we must seek to experience the peace of Christ in our hearts. This means allowing the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). As F.F. Bruce, the New Testament scholar, said, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." This is not something that can be taught in a book, but must be experienced. In complete honesty, the world makes no sense to me apart from the peace of Christ. I pray that you, too, will experience this peace in your life.