BLAIRGOWRIE

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 

Have you ever heard a piece of music so beautiful that it transcended whatever chaos, stress, or pain you were feeling? 

 

The life of one of the most famous musicians of all time was hard and relentlessly discouraging. Ludwig von Beethoven was gifted at writing beautiful, complex music but he did so while facing financial problems, political turmoil, war, and while he was losing his hearing. In fact, one of his most famous works, the “Choral Symphony,” was written when he was completely deaf—a powerful testament to the beauty of resilience amid challenges. 

 

Even when surrounded by the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of this world, God wants to bring you unshakeable peace that touches the lives of everyone around you. God says to you, personally, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

 

Many people have hearts filled with unrest and turmoil.  Recently, I read the words of a professional counsellor who wrote, “The dark side of human experience, and a global culture of hatred and chaos, punctuated recently by large-scale acts of atrocity… have left many adults and children with post-traumatic stress symptoms.  It is not unusual to experience disrupted sleep patterns, irritability, difficulty sustaining attention, hyper-vigilance, and a general sense of vulnerability.”

 

It’s not just our fear of what terrorists may do, or what rogue countries may do as they threat the rest of the world, or the ever-increasing hatred between groups of peoples are doing.  That’s only the surface–like the tough onion skin which you peel layer by layer to reveal layers of stress in our homes, our offices, our families, our churches and schools.  It’s like a global societal dysfunction.

 

To thrive in a volatile world, we must cultivate thoughts of hope that root us in what the Bible says are God’s plans for our lives. When our thoughts and actions are aligned with God’s Word, we are not controlled by changing circumstances. By reading the Bible every day and meditating on God’s promises in verses like Isaiah 41:10, we can become more resilient– filled with peace even when the world is trembling. And like Beethoven, your life can ring with a beautiful, calming song of hope.

 

Here’s a picture to remember.  A contest was held to find an artist who could best represent peace in the midst of a storm.  The winning painting depicted a raging storm with wind blowing, the boughs of trees bending with the gale of the wind and rain, but on a branch of a tree was a bird’s nest and with her feathers of protection spread over the nest were three tiny birds oblivious to the storm because of the mother’s wings.

 

Here is the bottom line.  As God’s child, you can face the storm, knowing that you are sheltered by the Almighty no matter how strongly the winds blow.

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With every blessing and grace,

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Waiting on His return, 

Benjamin

Prayer

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Heavenly Father, Today, we come before You as a dear friend, pouring out the longings of our hearts. Our minds feels clouded, and we yearn for clarity and peace. In the midst of life's chaos, we seek Your gentle touch to calm the storm within us. Help us to trust in you and to rest in your care. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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