Maintaining Peace of Mind

Nothing destroys peace of mind like fears about tomorrow and these days people everywhere are worried about something: their jobs, their families, their finances, terrorism, the possibility of nuclear war, the list goes on and on. And though these problems are real, Christians are commanded by Scripture not to be fearful or to worry but to cast all their cares upon Jesus, no matter how big or impossible the circumstances.  Jesus says, in Matthew 10:29-31 that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God knowing it, and that we are worth more than sparrows.  He also says the very hairs of our head are numbered. Yes, He has numbered every hair on our head!  And if He cares about such a seemingly insignificant detail about each of us, surely He knows and cares about the "big stuff” in our lives as well.

Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What an exchange! What Jesus is saying here is if we yoke up with Him, if we walk beside Him and walk in His ways and get to know Him in a personal way, then He will give our souls rest by carrying our burdens. That word “souls” in Greek is psuche from which psyche comes from, and refers to the mind. Jesus is talking about giving us peace of mind, and when we have peace of mind we are not worrying about things.

In 1Timothy 1:7 the Apostle Paul says “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  By this we see that God doesn’t want us going through life worried and afraid, but to walk in the power and love He has given us, and to maintain that soundness of our minds by walking closely with Jesus and allowing Him to help shoulder the burdens of our life.  

No circumstance, no matter how difficult, can void out the word of God.  He will deliver what He promises if we will follow what He says. The only questions remaining: Do we believe it? And will we do it?

Until next week,

Sylvia