Choosing Peace

“Although my world may not be stable, I can be stable in it.”

I read that statement in a counseling book years ago and it has always stuck with me. 

To say that the world doesn’t feel stable right now might be an understatement. 

And people are reacting to the instability in a variety of ways.

Fighting over packages of toilet paper.

Hoarding enough food and medicine to last for years. 

Ingesting dangerous chemicals out of fear that they might catch Coronavirus. 

Those are the reactions we see on the news. 

What we don’t see on the news are folks reacting in a different way.

Reaching out to elderly neighbors to see how they can serve them.

Offering meals and supplies to workers on the front lines of this pandemic.

Coming together as a church body online to honor God as we always have, because He doesn’t change no matter what is happening around us. 

How we react to this current crisis (or any crisis) all comes down to choice.

We can choose to let the chaotic circumstances that surround us at every turn drive us into internal chaos, with knee-jerk reactions and a me-mentality. 

Or we can acknowledge the chaos that surrounds us and choose to stay calm and collected, knowing that God’s got this and God’s got us. Always. 

It’s natural to feel uneasy and fearful about what’s happening but we are reminded in the Bible over and over again that we don’t need to fear. One of my personal faves:

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Pray bold prayers. Be Christ in human form to our neighbors and friends. Give thanks for the blessings we still have in the midst of this crisis. 

Choose peace today.