Christian Counsel in the Midst of Chaos
How does the believer stand firm in a world that is out of our control? How do we hold our ground in steadfast love when the world is hurt and angry? How do we bring help and not more harm to a situation already spilling over into violence?
Turn your eyes to the Rock who is not shaken. Turn your ears to His Word that stands forever. It will overcome our anger and fear. It will restore peace in our hearts. Christ gives us peace, but not as the world gives.
May the Scripture help us to understand ourselves and one another. Let it bring light to our desires and needs. Let it deliver to our hearts “the Shepherd and Oversee of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25), for only He can restore us.
Christian, consider these desires and needs as shown to us through the Scripture:
1. We want to be seen and we want our situation to be looked upon, especially in our hardships.
a. Job 6:28-29 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.”
b. Lamentations 1:9b “O LORD, behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!”
c. Lamentations 1:11b “Look, O LORD, and see, for I am despised.”
May we take comfort that the Lord looks upon us in our trials, and may we give comfort by looking upon the situations of others.
2. We want evil punished. We want to be avenged for the wrong we have endured.
a. Lamentations 1:22 “Let all evildoing come before you, and deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions, for my groans are many, and my heart is faint.”
b. Lamentations 3:64-66 “You will repay them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. You will give them dullness of heart; your curse will be on them. You will pursue them in anger and destroy the from under your heavens, O LORD.”
May we take comfort that the Lord will bring justice to all, and may we offer that as an established promise to those who have been treated unjustly.
3. We need our minds to remember. We need a restored vision of the God who is for us.
Lamentations 3:21-24 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will hope in him.””
May we take comfort in the character and nature of God who has determined to do good for us, and may we point others to the assurance of God’s desire to bless.
4. We need to examine our hearts before God. We need to cry out to Him in prayer and seek Him in worship.
a. Lamentations 3:40-41 “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven.”
b. Lamentations 3:55 “I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit.”
May we take comfort in the worship of God. May God’s holiness and righteousness humble us before Him and may His goodness toward us move our lips to praise and petition Him. May the world witness our worship and be drawn to the Object of our affection.
5. We need to see Christ on the cross for us. We need to see the redemption and peace He won for us.
a. Lamentations 3:58 “You have taken up my cause, O LORD; you have redeemed my life.”
b. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
May Christ crucified for us comfort our weary souls and grant us the strength to stand firm in faith and love. May the world see our resolute hearts and glorify our Father in heaven.
We have hope for our own hearts in the midst of whatever we face. And we have hope to offer to others. Let the Word of God guide your heart and give you grace so that you can hear the plight of your neighbor and love them out of your faith in Jesus Christ.