Download Keeping the Peace Session 3--Rest in God BASIC INSIGHTS The

Keeping the Peace
Session 3—Rest in God
BASIC INSIGHTS
The following information is to help you get students thinking about the question, How can I have peace
when my world is crashing in? and to drive home this one truth: We can find rest when we focus on
God.
INTRODUCE THE TOPIC
In 1989, the Grammy Award winner for Song of the Year was a jazzy, little a cappella number sung by Bobby McFerrin called, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. With its toe-tapping rhythm and upbeat lyrics, it was the kind of
song that made you just want to smile. But sometimes, following the advice of the song—don’t worry, be
happy—is easier said than done. When you’re having one of those days where everything goes backward
and people and events are stressing you out, it’s hard to suck it up and smile. Life isn’t always fun. Some
days you flunk the test you needed to pass. Some days you end up in an argument with family or friends.
Some days your computer crashes and you lose valuable information. Some days there’s not enough time
or money for what you need. And some days you get life-changing news that someone close to you is gone
forever.
Even those who have found peace with God in a personal relationship through His Son have days when
peace of mind is hard to find. But it is possible to be at peace whether or not your life is problem-free at the
moment. The apostle Paul experienced this ‘in spite of troubles’ peace and in his letter to the Philippians he
told how we can have it, too.
POINTS TO FOCUS ON
1. Don’t worry.
The majority of Americans are stressed out. At least that’s what the numbers indicate from a recent survey
by the American Psychological Association: Two-thirds of Americans say they are likely to seek help for
stress, and 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives.
Teenagers are not immune to the issues of feeling stressed out and needing peace. In Baltimore, local
teenagers were interviewed as part of a study which looked at levels of teen stress. Results showed the five
sources of stress these youth experienced most often were school work (78%), parents (68%), romantic
relationships (64%), friends’ problems (64%), and younger siblings (64%).
Many people react to mounting stress with worry. It’s human nature. When we run up against problems or
feel threatened by potential difficulties, we tend to anticipate the worst case scenario and allow our minds to
camp out there. We become anxious and fearful. Worry impacts us mentally and emotionally, as well as
physically. Anxiety—a feeling of apprehension or fear—can lead to infection, heart disease, and depression,
among other ailments. It is often accompanied by physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension,
stomachaches, and sleep problems. In 2009, many American adults found themselves hard hit in the middle
of a global recession. Widespread financial problems contributed to a spike in the number of calls to suicide
hotlines, so much so that the federal government increased its financial support for suicide prevention centers across the nation. In August 2009, a survey by Seventeen Magazine and Bank of America indicated
that teenagers were also anxious about financial matters. Of the girls who participated, 85 percent said they
were worried about the economy in general, and 88 percent said they worried about money issues, like not
having enough to buy what they wanted, pay for doing things with friends, or afford college. Among the
boys, 75 percent said they were worried about the economy, and 82 percent admitted they fretted over
money.
In 21st century America, the words Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6a are as relevant as the day he penned
them:
Don’t worry about anything…
You could argue that life was simpler in Paul’s time, that he had no knowledge of the complexities of modern
life or the difficulties people today encounter. Actually, however, Paul wrote these words while suffering in an
extremely stressful situation. At the time Paul wrote Philippians (about A.D. 62), he was imprisoned in
Rome, awaiting trial. The outcome of his trial could bring either his acquittal or execution. But Paul wasn’t
pacing the floor or wringing his hands with worry. In the same letter, he testified that he had learned to be
content no matter what his circumstances (4:11). Throughout the letter—as many as 19 times—Paul mentioned joy, rejoicing, or gladness. Despite his own present suffering and the prospect of execution clouding
his days, he had learned how not to worry. Paul instructed his readers how to overcome worry as well.
2. Pray about everything.
Paul’s solution to worry lay in his recognition that he didn’t have to shoulder his troubles on his own. He realized that he had little control over the events that impacted his life and determined his destiny. Understanding that God was in control of everything that happened to him, he made the decision to take his concerns to
God in prayer rather than fretting over how to cope with them in his own power. It came down to a simple
choice between worrying or going to God. Paul chose to trust God. As an alternative to worry, Paul urged his
readers to carry their troubles to God through prayer:
…but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
(Phil. 4:6b).
Sometimes teens tend to think that God is too busy handling the great crises of the world to be bothered
about the argument they just had with their parents or the math test they’re worried about flunking or their
fear of losing a boyfriend/girlfriend. On top of that they may wonder, “Since God already knows everything,
why do I need to tell Him what’s worrying me?”
As for running the universe, God is quite capable of handling global events and the minutia of our lives at
the same time. He cares about the little things that concern us. Jesus said that not even a sparrow falls to
the ground but that God knows and cares (Matt. 10:29-31). If God cares what happens to a tiny, seemingly
insignificant bird, He certainly cares what happens to His children.
It’s true that God already knows what’s in our heads and hearts. We don’t pray to give Him information He
doesn’t already have. We do pray because telling Him what’s bothering us and asking for His help is an
acknowledgement of our dependence upon Him and our trust in Him (Heb. 11:6). I have three sons, ages
22, 20, and 14. When they come to me to talk about something that’s bothering them, I don’t consider it an
imposition. This is the kind of relationship I want to have with them—one where they feel free to approach
me because they know they can trust me, where they know I love them, and that I’m eager to help them.
The same is true with our Heavenly Father who wants us to call on Him (Ps. 50:15).
On the other hand, if my children were always asking me to do things for them and never showing appreciation for what I gave, I might begin to resent it. Paul reminded his readers not only to petition God for help
with their worries but also to thank Him for His response. Notice specifically when Paul said to thank God—
in advance. Thanking Him before we see what God will provide is a display of our trust in His love for us and
His power to help (John 20:29). This prayer of thanksgiving is an expression of faith that God is able to help
us in our time of need. It is certainly an act of faith to thank God for something you have yet to see.
3. Let God guard your heart and mind.
The end result of taking our worries to God in prayer, thanking Him in advance for His help, and trusting Him
to work out the details is peace. This kind of peace is peace of mind. It is a blessing reserved for those who
have already found the peace with God we discussed in Session 2 (Rom. 5:1). Believing that God can handle any problem no matter how large or small and knowing that He loves us and will always work out the
circumstances of our lives for our best good (Rom. 8:28) frees us from anxiety. The pressure is off of us to
try to control events and other people.
Dr. Walter Cavert, working for the National Science Foundation, conducted a survey about human beings
and worry. His research revealed that of the things people worry about: 30 percent have to do with things
in the past that can’t be changed; 40 percent end up never happening anyway; 12 percent involve unfounded health concerns; and 10 percent are over minor and trivial issues that don’t really matter in the long run.
Dr. Cavert concluded that only eight percent of the things we worry about are real, legitimate issues. Based
on Cavert’s study, most of what people worry over isn’t worth thinking about to begin with. But even the
things that are legitimate sources of worry fall under the scope of God’s control. That’s a good thing because
nothing is too difficult for God (Luke 1:37).
Here’s how Paul described in Philippians 4:7 what happens to those who turn their worries over to God
through prayer:
And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).
During the time Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was being held under house arrest, chained to a
Roman soldier. He was more than familiar with how Roman soldiers kept watch over someone they were
ordered to guard. Using that imagery, Paul explained how God’s peace keeps guard over the hearts and
minds of those who entrust their concerns to Him. Like a vigilant soldier, the peace of God protects our emotions and thoughts. It keeps fear and anxiety at bay, surrounding us with a calm assurance.
The peace of God differs from anything available from secular helps. Of course, there are non-spiritual ways
to relieve anxiety—exercise, adequate sleep, talking to friends, meditation, and the like. But the peace God
provides is unique. In fact, it surpasses human comprehension. Believers who steadfastly remain calm in
the face of overwhelming stress or great tragedy because they trust God provide a testimony to the supernatural peace that comes from God. It’s unexplainable. It’s supernatural. The only explanation is that the
source of that peace is God.
4. Walk with God.
God has promised to provide His peace, but we also have a part in protecting our hearts and minds. What
we think about and what we do can contribute to either peace or worry. Psychiatrists tell us that guilt is a
huge cause of anxiety. People torn between doing right or wrong experience internal tension. When we do
what we know is wrong, we feel guilty. When we focus on and do what God has said is right, we feel the
freedom of an unburdened conscience. Paul outlined the kinds of things believers should think about and do
in Philippians 4:8-9:
8Finally
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on
these things. 9Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will
be with you. (Phil. 4:8-9)
There’s a lot of bad stuff in the world. We can’t isolate ourselves completely from knowledge or images of
things that are false, immoral, dishonorable, or impure. But we can choose not to fill our minds with these
things. We can choose not to dwell on them to the point that they shape our attitudes and behavior. By deliberately focusing instead on things that are positive, we set ourselves up to experience God’s peace.
In the same vein, when we do the right things, we eliminate much of the anxiety that comes from guilt.
Paul’s readers did not have the complete New Testament. They did have Paul’s teachings and personal ex-
ample showing them how to live for Christ. Today, we can live an authentic Christian life by following the
teachings of the full counsel of Scripture. God’s commandments are not rules to keep people from having
fun. They are instructions that guide us to live life in the best and fullest way. Obeying God’s Word brings joy
and peace.
When your world is crashing in and peace of mind is hard to find, the secret to serenity is focusing on God
and trusting in Him. Luke 14:22-31 tells the story of Jesus walking on the water across the Sea of Galilee
during a turbulent storm. Watching Jesus from a boat, Peter asked the Lord to allow him to walk on the water with Him. At Jesus’ invitation Peter stepped out of the boat onto the sea and began to walk, heading toward the Lord. But when Peter began to focus on the wind and waves, he started to sink. His experience
illustrates this life truth. When we focus on the storm surrounding us, we panic and risk being overtaken by
the wind and waves. When we keep our focus instead on Jesus, we can rise above the storm and move
forward in the peace that is only found in a relationship with Christ.