What have you been chasing after?
If you are like me, life has been all about the chase. All about making desperate sacrifices in order to get what I want.
I chased success, money, and promotions at my job. I was desperate for the approval of others, comfort with an easy existence, and control over my life. I strived for a loving family, the proper education, and ministry success.
However, all of that chasing, striving, and desperation was for naught.
I had no joy. I had no peace.
Don’t get me wrong…meeting my goals did make me happy. I had the celebration and all the parties, but I had no joy. I had no peace.
In the blink of an eye, I lost everything and everyone, and I could no longer chase anything.
The only One that I found was Jesus. No…let me correct myself. Jesus found me! The only One I could cling to was Jesus. The only One who would never leave me was Jesus.
Jesus. My Messiah. Nothing else mattered.
My circumstances did not matter to Jesus. Jesus was not concerned with what I had, what I made, or how much I chased after things.
Jesus wanted my heart, my mind, and my soul!
With my eyes and my focus solely on Jesus, my complicated, messy life was reduced so small and so insignificant next to Jesus. All Jesus asked from me was surrender to Him.
Surrender the chase. Surrender the striving. Surrender the desperation.
I had no choice but to surrender all to Jesus.
It was only then that I was filled with the peace of God and the joy of the Lord.
Janet Erskine Stuart (1857-1914), a Christian writer wrote, “Joy is not the absence of suffering, and peace is not the absence of problems. They are the presence of Christ.”
“The crowd joined the attack against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had beaten them severely, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to guard them securely. Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:22-25)
I truly understood Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-25. They had been severely beaten with rods and were thrown into prison. Terrible, unwarranted suffering!
However, they were still able to pray and sing hymns to God. In prison. In shackles. After being severely beaten. They were praying with praise and worship! They truly possessed the peace of God and the joy of the Lord.
Despite their circumstances. Despite their feelings. Despite their obvious pain.
When our hearts are anchored in Jesus, and Jesus alone, we can experience joy and peace even in the midst of life’s storms.
If we seek happiness in relationships, finances, and comfort, we can lose it all in an instant. When our joy and our peace are rooted in Jesus, it will always remain, no matter the circumstance because He will always remain with us. Forever and ever. Amen.
Father God, thank you for being our source of everlasting joy and peace. Forgive us for seeking anything to give us what only you can provide. Lord, help us to keep our eyes focused on only you because you are enough, no matter the circumstances. In Jesus’s precious name. Amen.
Peace and grace unto you,
