“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
When I was a kid, there were times when I found it particularly difficult to fall asleep. Often, during those times, it was the fear of the unknown. I remember thinking, as I looked out my bedroom door, standing halfway open, that the ghost of my grandparents’ dog that had recently died would come walking around the corner. Of course, I knew ghosts didn’t exist, but for a little kid, the mere thought of it gave me the heebeegeebees.
From time to time, I would share my general nighttime fear with my dad, and he would comfort me, usually by singing Amazing Grace. I can still hear the song being sung as I carefully peered across the room, wondering what might walk around the corner. Inevitably, however, my eyes would get heavy, and I’d slowly drift off to sleep.
We all have things, looking back, around, or ahead, that are cause for fear or things we used to fear. Perhaps it’s people? Are there people who, through one reason or another, bring nervousness into your chest? Maybe it’s events? Are there situations like public speaking or driving in rush hour traffic that bring a shiver down your spine when you think about doing them? Perhaps it’s commitment? Is there a relationship or a job that you’re unwilling to go all-in on because of dread or fear?
If any of these and more relate to you, well, the Bible offers us some encouragement and hope.
In Psalm 4:8, David declares that he “…will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” What is it about what David says that gives us hope for our fears and anxieties?
At least two things:
- Peace is possible.
- God is the source of peace.
Peace is Possible.
Often, we’re bombarded by noise and distractions, whether it’s the commute to and from work, the meals that need to be prepared, the necessary care for someone you love, the job report that demands attention, and so on. At the same time, we find ourselves being pulled back and forth by emotions, desires, thoughts, and demands. We wonder, is there any rest? We may not be saying it, but we’re asking, “Is there peace?” Peace in thoughts. Peace in the schedule. Peace in emotions. Peace.
What do we mean when we talk about peace? There are at least two ways of understanding peace. The first is related to the physical (temporal) world, and the second is related to the non-physical (spiritual) world. It’s the physical world that we often think of when considering the idea of peace. What do I mean? Essentially, when we strive for peace, we frequently aim too low. We want our schedules to free up, but when they do, we often feel bored and want to be busy. We desperately want to succeed, but then we fear success might also mean walking through failure. We want our kids out of the house so that we can have “us” or “me” time, and when they are, we miss them and want them back again. We want to be in control at our workplaces and be the “decision-maker,” but when we are, we regret taking on the burden of making hard decisions with often limited information, and find ourselves wishing we had our old jobs without all the “headaches.” We could list example after example. And that’s what I mean when I say we aim too low. We need to raise our sights higher. What do I mean?
When we raise our sights to the spiritual or non-physical realm, we’re talking about eternal things. Things like God, the Bible, heaven and hell, the unseen realm. It’s here that we will find the kind of peace our hearts and spirits truly desire. In the spiritual realm, lasting and genuine peace resides. For example, have you ever been on vacation, faced setbacks on the flight or during travel, but not been flustered? What about a child who throws a temper tantrum, and you respond without anger or sarcasm? Or what about being fired from a job or facing some overwhelming circumstances at work, coming home, and celebrating, not because of the event, but despite it? To be sure, some people’s personalities are characterized by calmness, flexibility, and ever-optimism. So, if any of these examples don’t fit your scenario, then reflect on one that might create a scenario where experiencing peace would be impossible. How does one find peace?
A good archer always focuses on the target, not the arrow. A good musician focuses on the tune, not the note. A good builder focuses on the blueprints, not the 2×4. The point is that for something to be in harmony, whether shooting a bow, making music, or building a house, it must have an aim above the details that guides it to its ultimate destination. In other words, our lives, comprised of many events, need an external, eternal, non-physical aim that guides them from one moment to the next. God is the only one who offers this to us, which leads to our second point.
God is the Source of Peace.
One of the key tenets of the Christian faith is that God stands outside of His creation as its Creator. Practically, that means God exists independently of anything He has made. One way to think about this is that God does not need a human relationship to know how to relate to others because He has always related to Himself as the Trinity. This concept extends to everything that is part of God’s creation. God stands alone, yet fully content within His Triune nature.
Why is this important? This is important for at least three reasons. The first is that since God created everything, all things depend on Him for their lives. In other words, there is never a world where something comes from nothing. All life, traced back to its origins, finds that God is the source of all life. Thus, God is the source of life. Second, since God created everything, He has the power to sustain and govern all things. This means that there is never a time when God’s creation will overpower or overthrow God and His rule. All creation finds life in God and rests under God’s sovereign rule. Finally, the third point is that within God’s created world, He allows choice. Mankind may or may not choose God. In other words, all humans are culpable or responsible for their choices. The outcome is that man may prefer sin, see also Adam and Eve, and when man chooses sin, he ultimately chooses self. This is the essence of self-centeredness and the absence of peace.
Only God, with the power to create, sustain, and redeem, can offer humanity the kind of peace that transcends messy moments in life, bringing peace amidst chaos. Enter the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Christ came (Gal. 4:4-5), He provided a way for sinful, self-centered enemies of God to be reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10-11). It is this gospel, the good news about Christ’s work becoming sin for mankind so that mankind might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21), that is the only offer of the ultimate peace.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
What in your life are you holding so tightly that the thought of it going away gives you pause or anxiety? What detail (person, situation, etc.) in your life are you focusing on instead of the goodness and love of God expressed ultimately in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection?
What if this week, instead of focusing on the details of our problems, we focused on the new identity we have in Christ?
What if we prayed, “Christ, let this problem reveal more of You and my need for You”, instead of “…make this all go away”?
How might our peace in the chaos be different?
Lord, help us. Amen.
— August 27, 2025