Pathways Press.com

Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church.

When you learn about a chapter in someone’s life where they are facing harsh obstacles, are you amazed at the courage people display facing such a journey?  I think it must feel Iike one more thing might very well take them under. When I was a Deacon, I heard prayer requests that would make my heart ache for the person in need. And now in our small groups at Ladies Bible Study, hearing of family loss and hardships. Losing both one’s children, in addition to a house fire; friends facing cancer diagnosis, it is heart wrenching. Like most, I shake my head and think – Why? Why must there be so much suffering in the world? The answer is of course: the world is broken. When humans became separated from God, a steep price was paid. The Good News is, that is NOT the final answer. We as believers, know there is Hope. Hope in the name of Jesus Christ.  Yet when the future, that peace of being with Jesus Christ, seem so far away, how do we deal with the now?  As certainly this life and our journey on this planet presents daily trials of health issues, job demands, relationship challenges, financial loss, anger, jealousy and all sorts of stressors. How then, do we obtain the Peace, the Peace of Christ promised by God? The answer of course is found in the Bible. The words from believers that lived long ago can guide us and keep us focused today on methods of facing these challenges head-on and not lose hope.  For example, the scriptures in Philippians 4:8. Paul instructs the believers in Philippi what to focus their minds on and sometimes people today, focus on the beauty of this scripture’s adjectives, when in fact we should also realize the action word is THINK. So our guidance is to focus our thoughts on positive blessings and to follow Jesus’s model. As He often broke away from His followers and spent time with the Father in solitude, praying. During this Lenten season if you don’t already practice this, may you carve out time, each day to think positive, beautiful thoughts, and be reminded that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.  Let this Peace of God take hold in our hearts. For He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [Philippians 4:8]