With God, Peace Is Stronger Than Stress

Today’s reading:1 Kings 19:1-12

My business card says, “Don Cudd — I Do a Lot of Stuff.” Then it lists just some of the “stuff” I do, a seemingly random list ranging from tutoring to business consulting to computer repair to yard work. I end up being called by God to some different type of project just about every day.

And, while that makes for an exciting and interesting life, it also is very stressful. I often find myself nearly overwhelmed.

Notice that I say nearly.

In the past I became completely overwhelmed by a lifestyle that was not  as hectic as the one I now lead. (It’s interesting to notice that I work even harder and longer these days than I did when I wrote this complaint about how much teachers are expected to do.)  Twice in the last 15 years I have ended up in doctor’s offices with a prescription for anxiety pills and orders to change my life, to find a way to calm down and manage stress.

Those doctors, I’m sure, would not recommend my current way of living.

But I’m fine.

It’s good to see a reminder of why I’m fine in today’s reading.

“He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;   and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.” (Verses 11-12)

My circumstances are never as dramatic as Elijah’s. (My worries are usually over things like how I’m going to get 5 yards mowed in one day while attending to my father’s needs and being alert enough late into the evening to be of good service to the college students from around the world who need my help on their term papers. Life or death is certainly not at stake.) But Elijah’s fear and dread is familiar to me:

“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” (Verse 10)

But today’s reading reminds me that God is not in rain that upsets my yard mowing plans, or the internet problems that keep me from communicating with my students. Or even in the peskier-than-usual virus on my customer’s computer.

God is in the peace that comes when the work is finally done. And, when I just trust God, the work always ends up done. Sometimes I’m not entirely sure how it gets done. But it does.

And that is worthy of eternal celebration.

Thanks be to God for eternal peace. May I (and we) always remember to rejoice in it — especially when my inclination is to panic.