Like the rest of the world, I’ve been keeping on top of the news each day. It’s rarely happy reports from any place on earth. Famine, disease, fighting, riots, looting, killing, over and over again, everywhere. It is dismal to say the least.
This week, in the midst of contemplating the chaos of the world, I began to pray. While I was praying a picture popped into my mind. In my mind’s eye I saw a storm sweeping across the land. Wind was fierce, uprooting trees. Buildings were being demolished in the raging tempest. Water from black skies pummelled the earth with ferocious intensity. Everything seen was in great danger of destruction — except — beneath the surface.
Beneath the surface an underground river flowed. It was deep, thus, unaffected by the events so close aboveground. Beneath the earth I could see the clear water proceeding along its course. It was undisturbed. Nothing above ground could hinder the purpose of the river.
It was then I thought of each of us who personally know Jesus Christ. As we are resting in Him and in His strength, we are just like the river. We are aware of the chaos around us, but we are unhindered in our course. We are undisturbed. Inner peace is not shattered. We are saddened, but not distraught. God’s own peace reigns within to the point that we become as the underground river, flowing on unhindered and without panic no matter the chaos above.
How thankful and joyful we are in knowing that, like the river, as we go deep into the heart of God, our minds stayed on Him, then nothing this world hurls at us, will distract, muddle, or agitate our life’s journey.
“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you…” Psalm 91:9-10