My grandmother had a standing quote when life’s storms hit. She’d take a sip of her coffee, place the cup back down on the table, and in a calm manner utter, “This too shall pass.” It has become my mother’s mantra as well in dealing with the ups and downs of life.
As I grew older, I learned what my grandmother and mom knew. Even though the situation in which we are in seems bleak and unsolvable, we need only to look back at what we’ve come through and the manner in which God has previously delivered us. We need only to remember where we’ve been and how we came out of it. “This TOO shall pass.”
Proverbs 28:26, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”
Wisdom comes from God. He knows the bigger picture, and for those who love Him, He has a plan. In our struggles to want to make things better, to solve our problems, we sometimes seek the answer ourselves – instead of God’s answer. We like to feel forgotten or misplaced or pushed aside. It is our impatience or our fear that causes us to doubt that God is even working in our lives – that He even cares about our struggles.
I am in the middle of one of those battles right now. The balance between remaining in the peace of God and wanting my trial to finally be over is difficult. Some days the scales tilt heavy toward my way and other days tilt in favor of God’s way. John 14:27 assures us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
It’s easy to read that verse when the waters of life are smooth; but when the storms are raging and it is difficult to find footing to prevent being thrown overboard, the verse isn’t as clear.
I’ve learned to stop and reflect on how God has helped me in the past. Usually, it brings a smile remembering how desperate I felt during those times and God resolved them in a way I never even considered. Peace is not the resolution of the problem – that’s relief! Peace is the calm in the middle of the storm that all is well because God is steering the boat.
I wish I could tell you that I have mastered this “peace in the middle of the storm” composure. I wish I could tell you that I “get it right” and do not falter. But, that would be an untruth. Just like the verse from John, it sounds pretty on paper, but when put to the test, it can be a different story.
However, when I come to my senses, usually after a few hours of tears and anxiety, the verses I know in my heart begin to ring louder than the howling of the wind and the rush of the water, and I know, God is at the helm.
Colossians 3:15 reminds us, “15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
