Maintaining Peace in the Christian Life

How often in each of our lives does stress, anxiety, worry dominate our thoughts? How many different things that are going on in your life create sleepless nights, physical and emotional injury? If you are wondering about this or have experienced this, you are a normal Christian man.

Here is a list of things that may rattle your cage from time to time:

1. Marriage

2. Children

3. Work

4. Politics

5. Extended family

6. Money

7. Social Life

8. Friends

These are just a few of many issues that may disturb even the best and most ardent Christian in the world. Within in each of these topics there are hundreds of examples of things that could throw any of us off.

In a book by Father Jacques Phillipe this very topic is at hand, title of the book is "Searching for and Maintaining Peace". Our discussion this morning will center on this issue of what causes us to lose peace, how to learn to maintain it, and how to deal with certain circumstances.

First and foremost, Jesus is very clear on one thing; Apart from me, you can do nothing (john 15:5). Without this conviction, the peace of heart we all desire is not possible. The striving to gain it and maintain it is not possible. So, we must pledge to ourselves that we will accept this Truth.

A second truth that we must acknowledge is that the Christian life is one of combat. St. Paul in letter to Ephesians invites us to put on the Armor of God to fight, not human enemies ... but against the cosmic powers of this dark world the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens (Ephesians 6: 10-12). We must know that our lives are not inconsequential and problem free. We must be aware that it will contain constant and sometimes painful battles that last until death.

Father Jacques speaks about some common things that throw off our peace, first one being the fear of being without, things like money, social status, friends, family, material things and many more. Jesus teaches us that worrying about these things are detrimental to us, but who of you can add any time to your life by worrying? (Matthew 16:25) To preserve peace in our lives in the midst the hazards of human existence, we must rely on God alone with total trust in him. We have all heard this before and it is not easy. Many times, we lack confidence in God to come through. Many people do not feel God will make them happy if they commit totally to Him. How many of us have spent some of our lives trying to secure our own happiness without God and end up in the opposite way? This is Satan at his best, whispering to us that if it is to be its up to me! Asking us to distrust the Father, because we know better.

How about the fear of suffering? This is one all of us carry. Even when we abandon ourselves to God, he still allows suffering in our lives. However, it does not go without God's will for us to gain from it. St Therese of Lisieux states "God does not permit unnecessary suffering." Have we all not heard us or someone say to us, or see in a movie, if there is a God, why suffering? Father Jacques goes into to say Evil is a mystery, a scandal and it will always be so. Father states we must be convinced, if we want to reach the limits of our Christian Faith, that God is sufficiently good and powerful to use whatever evil there may be, whatever suffering however absurd and unnecessary it may appear, in our favor. It can only be by faith we do this, not by scientific or mathematical certainty. My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways not my ways, says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The way to overcome this is to focus on the gaze on Jesus. We cannot by intellectual or even Theological considerations. We must realize the giving of His life for each person that has been created and the love He nourishes each of us with is what inspires confidence in the Lord. Abandoning ourselves to God in all things, big, small, and all that comes our way.

It will not be easy, this abandonment as it requires an element of renunciation. That is why Jesus says whomever loses his life gains it,. Also, as mentioned earlier, the devil will cause us to imagine that if we do abandon ourselves to the Lord, we will lose things, like friendships, material things, an activity we love, etc. Simply not true. This effort of abandonment to God is not natural, it is a grace be asked of God. So, men, we must pray for this grace. Ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7).

Of the most common things that make us lose our peace is when another person hurts us through the way they treat us, or something they do to us. This can occur by our spouses, our children, co-workers, and friends. How to maintain peace in this with total abandonment? Father states the following: we should clearly do what depends on us to help them, even to see that they are reproved or corrected, in line with the potential responsibilities that we have to assume with regard to them, but everything should be done in gentleness and peace, when we are powerless, let us be quiet and let God act.

So, where does this leave us as Christian men doing battle with the world we live in? How do we become better Fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, friends and neighbors, the kind Jesus call us to be?

Father Jacques suggests these basic building blocks:

1. Believe that we can accomplish nothing without Jesus

2. That we must pray for the grace to totally abandon ourselves to God

3. That we must gaze upon Christ at the Cross, which means to realize his incredible love for us and that each of us is important and part of his Plan.

4. When faced with things that have the potential to disturb our Peace, and we are powerless, be quit and let God work.

("Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart" by Father Jaques Filippe)

Let's share a few questions now, just two this week!!

1. Share a time when you were hurt by someone close to you and it was unexpected, only if you feel comfortable. Do you think Father Jacque's advice may have helped you cope with this trial?

2. How do you plan on using this info going forward in your march with Christ?