Finding Peace Amidst Chaos

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in My Name – He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (Jn. 14:26-27)

Last week, I was in Colorado making a much needed silent retreat. During the last few days of my time there, a close friend was going through a really difficult situation. We prayed together before I left, and expressed our mutual faith that God would somehow bring good from the current troubles. Still, it was very hard to see someone I love dearly in such pain when I was powerless to do anything to relieve it.

Anyone who is a parent knows this feeling well. We raise our kids as best we can and try to teach them to make good choices. Inevitably, they make some ill-advised decisions along the way, and we have to let them deal with the consequences of those decisions if they are to grow into mature adults. But it can be excruciatingly painful to watch in the meantime.

As I was on the plane back to Denver, I began praying about the situation my friend is in. I felt badly that I was leaving just when it seemed I was needed the most, if only for an ear to bend or a shoulder to cry on. I remember at one point saying to the Lord, “I can’t hold my friend right now, but You can! Please reach in and bring peace and comfort to this situation.”

I was tired, and dozed off. When I awoke a little while later, I found that the sadness I felt earlier had been completely lifted from me. Nothing about the situation had changed, of course, but I found a deep peace (at 30,000 ft LOL!) when I placed that situation over which I have no control into the hands of the One who does.

In reflecting on that experience, I realize that my peace was found, not in solving my friend’s problem – for indeed I cannot solve it – but in that place of surrender within my soul, where God’s Spirit lives. It is a good reminder that I need to regularly retreat into that deep place no matter how crazy life gets. It’s kind of like the ocean. The waves are breaking at the surface, churning up the sand and rocks and whatever else in the shallows. But if you dive down to the deep water, everything is quiet and still, even though things remain chaotic at the surface. There in the calm depths you can stretch your hands out to Jesus and say, “You take this, Lord. It’s too big for me.”

Prayer Request
For those who are driven to try to fix and control what they cannot, and find life chaotic and frustrating.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit as our advocate and guide. Inspire our thoughts, and help us to surrender into Your care all that troubles us, so that we might experience that deep peace which passes all understanding. We pray in the mighty Name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.