Did you know that ancient prophetic teachings can guide us towards inner peace and personal growth?
You might not think that people from the past would have anything to say that would be applicable in our fast-paced world. Surely people who lived without modern conveniences or modern communication systems would have nothing in common with us.
But many prophets of the past lived in times which were incredibly stressful. There were times of war and persecution, times when people focused on surviving another day, providing food for their families all on their own and rearing children in troubled times. Think of the level of stress you would be under if you had to grow all your own food, hunt for your meat and there were people trying to kill you simultaneously or perhaps people who were persecuting you for your beliefs.
People who had solved the problem of finding peace in turbulent times have a lot of valuable insights to share with us today. Their insights are very relevant to us in our fast-paced world. While our stressors may not be exactly the same, high stress is common to the human predicament now and then.
No matter the time period, common struggles people face in achieving inner peace and personal growth, are similar – stress, anxiety, and lack of direction.
Let’s explore key prophetic teachings that address these challenges, that provide insights into how we can find peace in our everyday lives.
The apostle Paul taught in Philippians 4:6-8:
“Be careful (or worried/concerned) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:6-8
Paul spent his life teaching the gospel and being thrown in prison for doing so.
Paul’s tips for finding peace when we’re prone to be weighed down with stressful cares and concerns are priceless.
- To pray, making our requests to God with a thankful heart – knowing that He will answer.
- Focus on good, uplifting and edifying things: Things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. These are the things we need to think on if we want inner peace.
So instead of fueling our worry and concerns, fuel the positive. Approach God with a heart of gratitude and with a focus on good and uplifting things and outcomes.
Jesus spoke of the potential to find rest not only in some future afterlife, but in our present situations. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28.
Finding Hope in Christ
As we focus on being peaceful followers of Christ, we can obtain sufficient hope in Christ where we take His yoke upon us and we can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time forth until we shall rest with him in heaven. In other words, we can have this peace that surpasses all understanding in this life, regardless of how crazy the world gets. People in the past have done this and we can too.
What Have You Experienced?
Please share your experiences with feeling and knowing Christ’s peace even in difficult times in the comments and please check out my other videos for more insights on leaning on God to find peace in this uncertain world.
