Finding peace in Christ

[Monica4316]

Hi

I’ve been wondering about this for a while… Jesus told us to come to Him when we feel weary and He will give us rest. For the past little while, I’ve been worrying a lot about everything and haven’t felt a lot of peace. I often worry if I’m doing God’s will, or I feel like i’m offending Him, and I’ve been worrying about various everyday things like health or financial issues…

how do we open up to God to receive His peace?

 

[JaredR]

I’m sure you’re familiar with that Padre Pio quote – it’s one of my new favorites. Pray, hope, and don’t worry.

Kneel, and pray over whatever’s troubling you. Get all the anxiety out, casting your cares at Jesus’ feet. Place your hope in the Lord, and then don’t worry. In other words, don’t think about. Don’t dwell, ruminate, ponder, etc. If you’re still worrying after you prayed, that means you skipped the hope step. Worry doesn’t trust that God heard the prayer and wants the mind to apply itself to the problem (self-reliance). Hope knows God heard the prayer and that He is faithful to answer.

So, to summarize

1. Pray - get everything out there. This is your last opportunity to worry and fuss before the Lord, so make it good.
2. Hope - know that God has heard you and is faithful to answer.
3. Don’t worry - don’t think about your worries. Just don’t do it. Distract yourself when your mind wanders, but whatever you do resolve not to worry.

 

[Ann1231]

Hi,
first of all, I love your avatar. so beautiful

second, I find myself with this same situation. I tend to analyze and think too much about things. Some people pray more, some people study the Bible more, some talk to their Priest or their friends, etc. For me, I go out into my garden that is a very foresty-type garden area with seating, and I just open up and talk with God. I unload everything that is on my mind and just ask Him to release the burden from me and to heal me and realize that I am not in control, He is. Then, I do things, I enjoy the nature He gave me, I focus on my family, on His blessings, on all the beautiful things He’s done for me. It helps me tremendously.

I know this is a simple approach to what is probably a more complicated question but to me, this is where God always leads me and where I find His peace the most.

For instance, today, I took a long drive in the country, had a fawn run alongside my car in the ditch for about 1/2 mile, I stopped, watched him jump thru a soybean field and just soaked in what God created. I felt so much more at peace and realized all those things that had been bothering me, all my worries, are so small compared to His incredible creation and His protection and care for me. I felt so much lighter, and so much closer to Him when I came home.

 

[soma]

Meditation is great for quieting the mind. When one is silent the mud falls to the bottom and everything becomes clear. One starts to witness the mind and not get so involved in the details.

 

[TheQuestioner]

Read:
**Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart **

by Fr. Jacques Philippe