“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
According to this verse in Isaiah, these are names of Jesus. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. I have shared that circumstances over the last few years have caused me to deal with anxiety when I didn’t really think of myself before now as being someone who did. However, the more I learn about myself I know that I probably always dealt with it on some level. Anxiety is something that you hear a lot more of than we used to. There are children as well as adults taking medication for anxiety these days, which is no wonder with the world we live in. We seem to have so much more to worry about, with viruses and tensions and politics, and that is on the global and national scale. Much less in our own individual lives, where people are dealing with illnesses, and financial hardships, and addictions. But Jesus came to be our Prince of Peace. He came to help us to deal with these issues at hand. We are not meant to handle all of these things on our own and I think, at least for me, the anxiety level goes up when I am not putting things in their proper place. That doesn’t mean that the things that I worry about just vanish. But where am I placing them in perspective in my life. Am I worrying and talking about it more than I am praying about it.
Ms. Wendy, the author of the little companion book I am reading pointed out to me four times in scripture that tell me that nothing is impossible for God.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
“Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
My friends no matter what you are facing today, we are not supposed to face it alone. And Jesus is the only source of lasting peace that you will ever find in the midst of your circumstances, whatever your circumstances may be. You may end each day when everything went your way and you may feel like you have had a peaceful day. But even Jesus told us that each day would have its own troubles. (Matthew 6:34) But in that passage where Jesus was teaching his disciples about being anxious he also gave us the way to lay all of those things that cause us anxiety down.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
That’s your key, the only way to truly know God as Jehovah-Shalom is to spend time with Him and to get to know His word. I know for me, when I have gone through seasons where the anxiety level was heightened I have taken on a few practices that will also help me.
One of these is trying to memorize scripture. Now I will be the first to tell you I am horrible at that. I know a lot of scripture internally but I can’t always tell you it’s address. What I have done many times and seasons of my life when I was dealing with a particular issue and praying during certain seasons is I will get one of those spiral bound index card booklets and I will keep it by my side during my quiet time. When a verse jumps out at me I will write it in that little booklet. Then I will carry that with me in my purse or put it in my car and when I feel the anxiety level going up I will pull it out and read over the scriptures that I have written down.
If you are dealing with worry and you find yourself fretting over a particular issue. Follow it with this verse.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request me made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Are you struggling with where you are in life or what you want out of life? Is God trying to get you to take one path and you, in your mind are holding on to a plan that is not God’s will for your life.
“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.” Matthew 11:29
Do you find yourself doubting God and if He is for you and even listening to your prayers.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
I know that some of what I am saying here may sound like just a Sunday school answer. But I promise you that if you will lay your cares at His feet every day and you will flood your heart and your mind with scripture, no matter what is before you, God will give you the peace to see it through as He works it for your good. I believe that because I have lived it. Even in the midst of some things that I worried some days would take me down, He has always come through for me. Even in the midst of my hurts, my sorrows, my anxiety, my worries and my hopes and my dreams, He is my peace, my Jehovah-Shalom, He makes me whole!
Restore 