By Pastor Ayo Ogunwale
Inner peace is that state of calmness in the soul irrespective of happenings all around. Life is a rollercoaster of all sorts of experiences that may be exhilarating or depressing, threatening or comforting. Any experience that leaves one fearful or worried can be likened to a storm. It may be a fractured relationship between couples in the home, stressful working environments, bereavement, long covid or financial pressures in the face of the rising cost of living.
How does one find inner peace amid the chaos all around? As we navigate through difficult circumstances in life, this is one virtue that can keep us from becoming an emotional wreck. It helps us step back from difficult situations, reflect before acting. It is a precursor to sound decision, thoughtful response, calmness, freedom from anxiety, self-confidence and hopefulness.
We have the biblical story of three young men threatened by a tyrant called Nebuchadnezzar. Their calm response to the extremely furious king is evidence of inner peace. On the contrary, the disciples despite having Christ with them in the boat on a stormy sea cried out in despair. They could only see death and doom. Professionals have prescribed many activities as aids to finding inner peace. Such cannot guarantee steady peace in every stormy situation. Without Jesus the Prince of peace, such aids will be insufficient. The Bible affirms that there is no peace to the wicked, that’s one who has no relationship with Jesus Christ who alone gives true peace in a turbulent world.
The starting point to finding inner peace is having a connection with God through Jesus Christ. Our world is broken, filled with pain and calamities because of sidelining God. The desire to live independent of Him has made true peace missing from many lives. The consequence is so many angry people, violence, broken homes, hopelessness and more. To the anxious, Jesus says Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Are you traumatised by guilt or any other emotional pain? Jesus’ invitation to you, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Talk to him now asking him to forgive your sins, then forsake them and believe on Him as Lord and Saviour. Taking the afore-mentioned steps by faith brings you into a relationship with Jesus, He comes to live in your heart. The outcome, forgiveness, peace, joy, righteousness, hope and rest in your soul.
As a Christian, do you find yourself in the eye of the storm? Understand first, having Jesus as your Lord and Saviour does not exclude you from difficulties. In Mark 4:37-41, Jesus and his disciples were in a boat. There arose a great storm to the extent that the boat was flooded. The disciples panicked instead of praying and accused Jesus of his lack of concern because He was fast asleep. Jesus woke and rebuked the storm and the scriptures recorded, the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Whatever turbulence you are experiencing in your life, if you have Jesus in the boat of your life as captain you will ride it out.
Fixing your gaze on Jesus, His love, mercies and care while in the eye of the storm will give you inner peace. Peter while walking towards Jesus on the sea only began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the boisterous wind. One may ask how do I fix my eyes on Jesus with storms so real around me? It is by meditating on and believing the word of God. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 119:65 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Filling your heart with the promises of God and not with the words of the doomsayers will give you great comfort and hope. He promised, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.
The words of the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel encapsulates the subject of this discussion.
O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Saviour
And life more abundant and freeTurn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace
Looking to Jesus by faith will cause the storms to fade into insignificance as He submerges your soul in the ocean of His glory and grace.