PEACE (Afrikaans hieronder)
I once heard peace defined as “being secure in the midst of turmoil.” But is it possible not to worry when everything around you is fueling your fear?
A couple years back I was confronted by the words of Jesus (John 14:1) which say, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Think about it for a minute; Jesus was preparing his disciples for the greatest “tragedy” they would go through. These men had given up everything they had to follow Jesus and were holding onto Him as their hope. They were about to see their hope crucified.
In preparation for this Jesus says to them “let not your heart be troubled”. In another situation Jesus was teaching, and said, “Do not worry about your life.” (Luke 12:22) No matter what you’re facing, you choose to allow your heart to be troubled, or not. Most people don’t realize that they have control over their own emotions.
Emotions are a direct result of what you believe and focus on. If you focus on the increase of crime and believe that it’s only a matter of time before someone breaks into your home and murders you, then you will be bound in fear.
As a believer I choose to think about the promises God has given us. Psalm 91 speaks of how God protects us and sends His angels to guard us. By trusting in God and focusing on His promises I find myself secure in the midst of turmoil; not ignorant of what’s happening, but at peace in spite of what’s happening.
Isaiah 26:3 says of God, “You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.” With faith in God and keeping our minds on His promises, we can remain secure through troubled times.
VREDE
Ek het eenmaal gehoor dat vrede gedefinieer kan word as “om gerus te wees te midde van onrustige omstandighede”. Maar is dit moontlik om jou nie te bekommer as alles rondom jou besig is om vrees te veroorsaak nie?
‘n Paar jaar terug is ek gekonfronteer met die woorde van Jesus (Joh. 14.1) wat sê: “Laat julle hart nie ontsteld word nie; glo in God, glo ook in My”. Dink ‘n bietjie hieroor: Jesus was besig om sy dissipels voor te berei vir die grootste tragedie wat hulle ooit sou tref. Hierdie groepie het alles opgegee wat hulle gehad het om Jesus te volg, en al hulle hoop was op hom gevestig. Hulle sou binnekort hul Hoop aan die kruis sien sterf.
Ter voorbereiding hiervoor sê Jesus vir hulle: “Laat julle hart nie ontsteld word nie”. In ‘n ander situasie het Jesus ook vir die mense rondom hom geleer: “Moenie julle kwel oor jul lewe … nie” (Luk. 12:22). Dit maak nie saak wat jou in die gesig staar nie – jy kan kiés of jou hart ontsteld gaan raak of nie. Meeste van ons besef nie dat ons beheer oor ons eie emosies het nie!
Jou emosies is ‘n direkte uitvloeisel van wat jy glo, en waarop jy fokus. As jy gaan fokus op die toename in misdaad in jou area en glo dat dit net ‘n kwessie van tyd is voor iemand by jou huis inbreek en jou oor die kop slaan, gáán jy in vrees vasgevang wees.
As ‘n gelowige kies ek om te dink aan die beloftes wat God ons gegee het. Psalm 91 praat oor hoe die Here ons beskerm en Sy engele stuur om rondom ons wag te staan. Deur op die Here te vertrou en op Sy beloftes te fokus, vind ek dat ek gerus is te midde van onrustige omstandighede; ek’s nie onbewus van wat aangaan nie, maar ek het vrede ten spyte van wat rondom my aangaan.
Jesaja 26:3 sê oor die Here: “U sal ‘n standvastige gesindheid in volle vrede bewaar, want hulle vertrou op U”. Met ‘n vertroue in die Here en deur jou fokus standvastig op Sy beloftes te hou, kan jy vrede ervaar – maak nie saak wat jou omstandighede is nie.
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