FAITH THAT PRODUCES PEACE AND HOPE

Our faith in God produces peace that surpasses our understanding. When we lean on God, we allow God to carry us through the challenges we face. I remember when I was on a boat traveling from one island to another island in the Philippines, we experienced bad weather that threatened our safety. The waves were getting stronger and rising higher, crashing and splashing with greater intensity against our boat. Even the captain of the boat began to worry. However, in the midst of this chaos, I began to pray, and as I prayed, God assured me that everything would be fine, even when He decided to take me home on that day. My faith in God produced in me peace that surpasses any understanding. My flesh wanted to worry, but my faith gave me peace. My flesh can only understand my current situation, but my faith sees God's sovereign power over everything. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Our faith gives us hope in the midst of uncertainty. As the water splashed on my face and the captain struggled to maneuver the boat through the waves, I began to smile because of the hope that I had from God. When we finally arrived on the other island, everybody was relieved, but I was rejoicing in God and thanking Him. We may be facing problems that are too big for us to handle or solve, but there is no such thing that is bigger than the power of our God. As long as we lean on God and not on our own strength and understanding, we will always have hope and peace in our hearts. Romans 8:38 says, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love."

Let us continue to walk in our faith in God. Instead of looking at our challenges through the lens of our own strengths and understanding, let us look at them through the lens of our faith in God, for there is nothing impossible to our God.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What happens when I walk by faith in God daily? Do I trust God, or do I trust myself? How can I have peace in the midst of my problems?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for being my hope in the midst of chaos. Thank you that I can lean on you when I am overwhelmed by the challenges I face. Please protect my heart from trusting in my strength and understanding, but only trust in you, for you are a sovereign God who is in control of everything. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.