Peace: Knowing Who is in Charge

by: Micah A. Tecne

Are you currently going through a period of inner or outer chaos in which you are on the edge of giving up, losing hope, panicking, or something else that is comparable? When someone is having a panic or anxiety attack, we usually try to calm them down. One of the fundamental interventions recommended to us when confronted with a catastrophe, conflict, or turmoil is to remain calm and avoid panicking. However, some of us fail to achieve this and instead exhibit a reactive attitude. Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, became so enraged during the capturing of his Lord that he severed one of the soldier's ears. Jesus quickly rebuked him for his unguarded emotions about the situation. 

At some point in our lives, a variety of conflicts will confront each of us, with the potential to either strengthen or demolish us. The decisions we make throughout this season will establish our foundation. Whatever we allow will govern us. Martin Luther once said, "We cannot prevent birds from flying over our heads, but we can prevent them from nesting in our hair." We allow things to take control of us. When anxiety and fear take control of our lives, we lose our peace. Not only do we lose the fight, but we also lose the peace. What are we allowing to control us when we are experiencing distress? Who has the upper hand? 

Psalm 46:10 is a passage in which a psalmist encourages his audience to be still and to recognize that God is God. You should choose to remain immobile regardless of the circumstances, and this stillness will disclose His identity to us, which we are looking for.  We will be able to hear His voice in the silence that we experience, which will bring peace to our hearts and enable us to trust Him more, knowing that He is in charge and in control of everything. 
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Despite the challenges you face, you are poised to achieve your goals. Jentezen Franklin once asserted that peace is not the absence of trouble. It is standing in the middle of the storm and choosing to be still and not panic. We choose to trust God. We choose to be at peace.  Choosing to remain cool and not panic when standing in the middle of a storm is a necessary step in this process. We have decided to put our faith in God. The decision to be at peace is ours. At this juncture, we may feel concerned. Perhaps we are experiencing feelings of disheartenment and fear. Whether we opt to stay motionless and recognize the existence of a higher power, or if we succumb to the negativities wrought by our life's chaos and disarray, these questions hold significant importance. Who is in charge and able to fight alongside all of us and on our behalf? When we make the conscious decision to seek God out in the midst of our storms, we discover true serenity. In spite of everything that is going on, He is always with us! You are Immanuel! God is with us.