Too many Christians that I know
are liars.
I don't think they intend to,
but I hear people in my church
lying to each other all the time.
Here's what happens.
Someone in our church family goes through something difficult.
They went to the doctor
and they noticed something's wrong with their health.
Or their family or their marriage isn't in a good spot.
It's a rocky situation
or there's some uncertain news that's kind of hanging over their heads.
And in those kind of scary, concerning moments,
Christians lie.
They say to each other, "Oh, that lump.
"I'm sure it's nothing.
"I'm sure it's not cancer."
Or "I guarantee you your family's going to make it.
"You guys love each other so much."
Or "We're going to get through this.
"God has someone better lined up for you in the future."
And I understand why we say that kind of stuff.
It feels like it's comforting and hopeful.
But, can I burst your Christian bubble?
You don't know that.
God hasn't guaranteed Christians cancer-free bodies.
He doesn't say that every marriage that starts in a church
can't end in a court.
He doesn't promise us health or wealth
or children or safe travels.
In this broken world, stuff happens.
And it might sound nice,
but saying "It's going to be fine. I know it,"
actually doesn't give the human heart much peace
because we know it always isn't.
This week we're talking about this passage from Galatians 5
and it says,
What the Holy Spirit wants to produce in you
is a sense of peace.
Just take a deep breath
and you know it's going to be okay.
And you don't have to be afraid.
And you don't have to be worried.
You can have peace.
But the source of peace isn't lying to each other.
It's not promising that everything's going to be okay.
No. The Apostle Paul,
he knew the real source of peace.
God.
Paul believed that God was so big and so glorious
and so committed to walking by his side
through all the ups and downs
that he could have a sense of peace.
You could say that the Apostle Paul planted his roots
in the powerful presence of God.
And that produced in him this fruit and this feeling of peace.
And that's why I want to share with you a tip
that I often remind myself of when I'm in a worrisome situation.
When I walk into a meeting where there could be bad news.
Could be financial bad news.
Could be bad news with our church.
Maybe I walk into the doctor's office.
If I have a pad of paper, as I'm taking notes,
I write on the top of that paper,
"GOD".
And whenever someone makes a comment or I have one of those thoughts
that makes me worried and afraid,
whenever I'm this close to losing my peace,
I look at that little name.
Or, I should say, that big name on the little piece of paper,
"GOD".
I belong to God.
God is going to be with me.
The Lord is my shepherd.
So even if I walk through the valley, I'm not going to be afraid.
Because he's with me.
Yesterday, there was a woman from my old church who emailed me.
She had heard me give that advice in the past.
To remind yourself through the toughest moments that God is here.
And she said she was at her doctor and they found a lump.
And, in that moment, for some reason
that I think was the Holy Spirit,
all she could think of was
"GOD".
"God is here,"
she told herself.
Whatever was going to happen with cancer or her treatment,
whatever that lump turned out to be,
God is here.
And she said she felt this overwhelming, beautiful sense of peace that
flooded her heart
as the Spirit was at work.
You know, she went and she shared the news
with family members and friends and they freaked.
They were worried and afraid.
They tried to wish the best case scenario.
And she was like the only one in the room
who felt this sense of peace.
Because she didn't put her hope or er happiness in uncertain things.
She put it in the rock-solid promise and presence
of God.
So, I don't know what you're going through.
I don't know what uncertain things are in your financial
or relational or physical life,
But I do know this.
You don't have to lie to yourself.
You don't have to cross your fingers and wish for the best.
Like that woman, like I do, in those meetings.
You can just write that one big word on your heart.
"GOD".
Because of Jesus he'll never leave you.
He'll never forsake you.
And that means you're going to be okay.
Because the fruit of the Spirit
is peace.
Let's pray.
Father, it is so instinctual for us to worry,
to think the worst.
To assume that we just couldn't be okay if we lost
something temporary.
And that's why we ask your Holy Spirit now,
as we put these roots in your promises
and your love and your presence.
Let that change us.
Like it did for that dear woman.
Give us a peace that goes beyond understanding.
That when family and friends are freaking out about the what-ifs,
we would just look at you
and know that you're always going to be there.
May your presence give us peace today.
We ask it in Jesus' name.
Amen.
What do you do to remind yourself that God is with you?
I shared my tip today.
That I love to write a little note, "GOD. GOD IS HERE."
What brings you peace in those worrisome moments?
I'd love for you to share your ideas in the comments section below
that we could remind each other of the amazing presence of God.
The presence that gives us supernatural peace.
Thanks again. And have a great day.