Finding inner peace and security

Finding inner peace and security

(A reflection in 4 parts)

Finding inner peace and security

Part 1: Without God, there is no peace.

Once upon a time, but not so very long ago, people lived their lives enfolded in the arms of God. That is certainly how they felt, and how they understood their lives. In the turmoil and tragedy of life, where much of the time we are powerless in the face of the forces that can sweep away our happiness and submerge us in loss and pain, or simply sweep all trace of us from the face of the earth, faith in God was the safe harbour in which we can shelter our troubled minds and find strength for our weary bodies to carry on. In God, we find that ultimate preciousness in which to rest, and from which to draw endless hope, strength, courage and peace.

But in a Godless age, what is there? We see in society around us a desperate floundering to find a foundation stone on which to stand, something that will impart an inner peace, and a sense of worth and meaning. Unsurprisingly, all alternatives to God prove inadequate.

In a wealthy society, we are able (if we are fortunate) to generate sufficient distractions to fill our leisure time with enjoyment. And, of course, there is always the burden, and often struggle, to pay your way in life, find a partner, and raise your children, and in that drama, the fullness of life shines through. Nevertheless, today we see the effects of the spiritual vacuum in a society that has turned its back on God. Once, there was an ultimate answer to all the desperate fears that afflict us: “You are a child of God and loved by him for all eternity”. It’s an answer that everyone can take to heart, no matter what their situation in life, or their personality, or their range of abilities. Anyone who dwells on this answer will find a balm for every wound, an empowering vision for every life, comfort and joy for every soul. Without this answer, what is there?