{"id":605,"date":"2015-05-08T21:38:39","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T01:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/?p=605"},"modified":"2016-08-04T07:29:58","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T11:29:58","slug":"quiet-peace-in-the-storms-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/08\/quiet-peace-in-the-storms-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Quiet Peace in the Storms of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

All too often you may find yourself in the noisy pits<\/em> of life\u2014maybe you are there right now. The stresses of life that seem overwhelming; the obstacles that seem insurmountable; the painful moments of heartache; the unknowns; the \u201cwhat if\u201d thoughts; the thoughts of \u201cHow am I going to make it through?!\u201d; each of these can flood our minds with noise<\/em>\u2014they can be deafening, debilitating, and defeating.<\/p>\n

So what do you do? How do you cope? How do you get through? HOW DO YOU QUIET YOUR NOISY SOUL? How do you find peace IN these noisy pits during these storms of life? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE\u2014CAN YOU HAVE QUIETNESS IN YOUR SOUL and actually be able to have peace<\/em> even though the storms of life rage on?<\/p>\n

The answer is YES! YES!! Yes a thousand times over!! You can and by God\u2019s grace you will.<\/p>\n

Jesus said, \u201cCome unto Me<\/strong>, all ye<\/em> that labour [weary<\/em>] and are heavy laden [beaten down<\/em>], and I<\/strong> will give you rest. Take My<\/strong> yoke upon you, and learn of Me<\/strong>; for I<\/strong> am meek [gentle<\/em>] and lowly [humble<\/em>] in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.\u201d (Matthew 11:28-29)<\/span><\/p>\n

The key to quietness in your soul is found in coming to Christ.<\/p>\n

Over these past few weeks, God has given me the privilege of repeated opportunities to counsel those who are going through these storms<\/em> of life while finding themselves stuck in a \u201cnoisy pit<\/em>.\u201d In each of these times, the Lord has brought me to Psalm 40 peeling back a new layer of truth, shedding further light upon its stabilizing truths.<\/p>\n

In Psalm 40:1-3 David writes, \u201cI waited patiently for the LORD<\/strong>; and He<\/strong> inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He<\/strong> brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and<\/em> established my goings. And He<\/strong> hath put a new song in my mouth, even<\/em> praise unto our God: many shall see it,<\/em> and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Consider his trial:<\/strong> David is obviously in a significant trial of life. It is a trial that causes him to \u201ccry<\/em>\u201d out to the Lord in desperation<\/em>. It is a trial that keeps on going and requires \u201cpatience<\/em>\u201d as he learns to \u201cwait patiently<\/em>\u201d for the Lord.\u00a0 It is a trial that has brought into his mind noise<\/em>\u2014thoughts of noisy unrest.\u00a0 It is a trial that has brought instability<\/em>\u2014standing in the \u201cmiry clay.<\/em>\u201d It is a trial in which his song<\/em> is an \u201cold song\u201d which is depressing and often filled with complaint possibly feeling undeserving of this difficulty.<\/p>\n

The phrase \u201chorrible pit<\/em>\u201d literally means a \u201cpit of noise.\u201d In these trials we often succumb to noise<\/em> in our souls as we strain to cope with the trying circumstances. This noise<\/em> refers to how we are thinking. Naturally we can be prone to think anxious thoughts during these times. We dig a rut that becomes deeper and deeper the more we think this way. This truly is an\u00a0\u201chorrible pit<\/em>\u201d that\u00a0God wants to bring us out of.<\/p>\n

Metaphorically, the \u201cmiry clay<\/em>\u201d calls attention to our unstable footing\u2014being unsure of what is happening, how we will get through this, all while asking \u201cWhy me?!\u201d This only adds to the anxiety\u2014the noise<\/em>\u2014as we contemplate the unknowns and the \u201cwhat ifs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider his confidence:<\/strong> While still in the storm of his life, we see David\u2019s confidence come to the forefront. We see that his attitude is \u201cpatient<\/em>\u201d waiting, knowing that God has heard his prayer and his confidence that HE will do something about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI waited patiently for the LORD<\/strong>; and He<\/strong> inclined [leaned in close<\/em>\u00a0to listen<\/em>] unto me, and heard [listened intently to<\/em>] my cry.\u201d ( Psalm 40:1)<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing that God hears our prayer should bring great confidence<\/em> as we consider who God is and what He does.\u00a0Often we don\u2019t even pray because we don\u2019t see the benefit. But in times like these if we do pray, lacking this confidence, we can find ourselves in a hopeless<\/em> prayer just going through the motions.\u00a0Prayer is a vital lifeline especially in the storms of life.\u00a0 Knowing that God hears our prayer as we pray according to His Word brings peace<\/em>. Consider Paul\u2019s words,<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful [anxious<\/em>] for nothing; but in everything by prayer [worship<\/em>] and supplication [attitude of need \/ humility<\/em>] with thanksgiving [attitude of gratitude<\/em>] let your requests be made known unto God<\/strong>.\u201d (Philippians 4:6)<\/span><\/p>\n

Biblical prayer is praying with the right attitude. It is coming before the God of the universe in worship<\/em> with a humble<\/em> heart of dependence<\/em> and thankfulness<\/em> laying our \u201crequests<\/em>\u201d\u2014our burdens before Him. If we want God to listen we must NOT come to Him demanding<\/em> but worshiping<\/em>\u2014humbly making \u201crequests.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul goes on to speak of the promised peace of God<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the peace of God<\/strong>, which [sur<\/em>]passeth [transcends<\/em>] all understanding, shall keep<\/u> [guard<\/em>] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus<\/strong>.\u201d (Philippians 4:7)<\/span><\/p>\n

This \u201cpeace of God<\/em>\u201d transcends our understanding\u2014it is the kind of peace someone has that seems impossible at that moment. This is the peace<\/em> that God promises to us when we pray Biblically.<\/p>\n

Consider his peace:<\/strong>\u00a0David, still in this storm of life speaks of this peace and stability that God gives him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe<\/strong> [the LORD<\/em>] brought me up also out of an horrible pit [a pit of noise<\/em>], out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and<\/em> established my goings.\u201d (Psalm 40:2)<\/span><\/p>\n

David is brought out of the \u201cpit of noise\u201d to having peace<\/em> on the \u201crock<\/em>.\u201d He is lifted\u00a0out of the\u00a0\u201cpit of noise\u201d as has victory over his noisy thinking. The rut of thought he has dug begins to be filled in with the truth of God.\u00a0The \u201crock<\/em>\u201d is truth\u2014it is the Word of God, manifested in the man, Christ Jesus. \u00a0David has fixed His mind upon the Lord, INTENTIONALLY thinking\u00a0upon\u00a0what he knows to be true about HIM. He is INTENTIONALLY thinking\u00a0upon the stabilizing truths<\/em> of God and as a result the noise<\/em> in his soul quiets into peaceful rest. Consider this promise from the prophet Isaiah,<\/p>\n

\u201cThou<\/strong> [God<\/em>] wilt keep him<\/em> in perfect [constant<\/em>] peace, whose<\/em> mind is<\/em> stayed [fixed<\/em>] on Thee<\/strong>:<\/em> because he trusteth [commits himself and is confident<\/em>] in Thee<\/strong>.\u201d (Isaiah 26:3)<\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s promise to the person who fixes their mind\u2014diligently, intentionally thinks\u2014upon Him will enjoy the \u201cperfect peace<\/em>\u201d of God.\u00a0Intentionally thinking on\u00a0His unending love and almighty power, His grace and mercy, His forgiveness and compassion, and all the wonderful truths of God found in His Word brings us confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that NEGATIVE, ANXIOUS\u00a0thinking leads to NOISY, UNSTABLE\u00a0living while GODLY thinking leads to PEACEFUL, STABLE living.<\/p>\n

Consider his song:<\/strong> The old\u00a0song<\/em> of heartache and trouble of trial and tribulation is filled with sadness and complaint. This is figurative language of our words and conversations as we seek to cope with our struggles. David says,<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd He<\/strong> hath put a new song in my mouth, even<\/em> praise unto our God<\/strong>: many shall see it,<\/em> and fear, and shall trust in the LORD<\/strong>.\u201d (Psalm 40:3)<\/span><\/p>\n

David speaks of a \u201cnew song<\/em>\u201d\u2014a song that is characterized by \u201cpraise unto our God<\/em>.\u201d Moving from the pit<\/em> to the rock<\/em>\u2014from the noisy<\/em> mind to the quiet<\/em> soul brings a \u201cnew song<\/em>.\u201d The reality is that when in the storms of life<\/em> we intentionally think\u00a0upon the Lord, worshiping the Him\u00a0in humble, thankful prayer we can enjoy God\u2019s transcendent peace. Naturally we will overflow with a new song of praise<\/em>\u2014praising God for His goodness to us.<\/p>\n

Consider his testimony:<\/strong> \u201c\u2026many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.<\/em>\u201d As David sings<\/em> in his suffering<\/em> he brings glory<\/em> to God and grace<\/em> to others. This song of praise flowing beautifully off David lips causes people to respond with awe and wonder.\u00a0As a result of David\u2019s peace<\/em>, we see his praise <\/em>to God\u2014as a result of David\u2019s praise<\/em> we see others turn to the Lord, trusting in Him.<\/p>\n

God desires to use the trials of life to get our attention and to turn our hearts to Him. He desires to use us for His purposes\u2014for His glory. He truly wants what is BEST for us. God\u2019s best<\/em> for us is to know His peace<\/em> and give Him praise<\/em>\u2014to know His peace<\/em> in our storms<\/em> and give testimony of His guidance and care.<\/p>\n

So what do you do in the storms of life? How do you cope? How do you get through? HOW DO YOU QUIET YOUR NOISY SOUL? How do you find peace IN these \u201cnoisy pits\u201d during these storms of life?<\/p>\n

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED CHRIST? Have you thought about God\u2019s purpose for you in this struggle that you face?\u00a0 Do you know the peace<\/em> of God that leads to the praise<\/em> of God? Learn to INTENTIONALLY think\u00a0upon the Lord and let Him quiet your noisy soul bringing you transcendent\u00a0peace<\/em> in the storms of life.<\/p>\n