By: Lori Benka
It was like any other day in our household. The kids just finished school and we were on our way to my oldest son’s hockey game. Everything was going great, until it wasn’t.
Out of nowhere, my son started complaining about his heart racing. I took his pulse and the heart rate was a steady 130 bpm. As I realized what was going on, fear began to build on the inside of me and anxiety gripped my heart. It was hard to find the peace my mind so longed for.
We took him to Children’s Hospital where they told us they needed to do more testing to see what was happening to his heart. They released us to go home and to be in touch with our doctors. We had many questions with little answers.
A week later, the school called me and asked me to come and pick my son up because his pulse had risen again and he wasn’t feeling good. As I made my way to the office, I took him by the arm and helped him down the stairs. But halfway down, he passed out in my arms. He quickly regained consciousness but we were both afraid. Alarm gripped me as I frantically called his doctor. All I could do was cry out to God because I couldn’t even form a prayer. I was so afraid and could only think of the horrifying “what ifs.”
As the doctor looked him over, he decided to transfer him back down to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital. I couldn’t find peace. Everything around me was spinning out of control and I found myself in a downward spiral of panic, fear and anxiety.
An unexpected Answer
When we arrived at Children’s Hospital, tests revealed that a virus had attacked my son’s heart and he would never be able to run or play sports again. This was an absolute blow to our family. How do you keep your athletic son sedentary? Questions of why kept replaying through my anxious mind. Why us? Why him?
We got home and began to pray like never before. We had know place else to go but down on our knees. As the weeks went by, fear and anxiety overtook my mind but I had to keep praying. I needed to make sure I was reaching the throne room of God. My son’s life depended on it. As I lay prostrate before God, praise began to fill my mouth and peace began to envelop me.
A month later, we went for another checkup where more testing was completed. The doctor entered the room and told us, “I don’t know how this happened, but Aaron’s heart is completely healed. The virus did not damage his heart. This is unheard of. Your son can resume his regular activity including playing sports!”
Today, my son is a Professional Marathon Runner, coaches a Junior High Cross Country team and dreams about going to the Olympics. In spite of fear, worry and anxiety, God heard my cry for help.
What is Peace
Merriam-Webster dictionary says that peace is “the freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.” It is a state of mind where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is in control and has you in the palm of His hand. John 16:33 in the Amplified Version says:
Jesus never promised us that we wouldn’t face challenges. In fact, He says the opposite. But He tells us to take courage because He has overcome the world. Instead of reverting to our fearful nature when things go wrong, we need to set our minds on Jesus and allow His peace that passes our understanding to guard our minds and give us hope.
Bible Verses To Help You Find Peace
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. –Isaiah 26:3
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. –John 14:27
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. –Proverbs 3:5-6
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. –Psalm 9:9-10
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. –Jeremiah 29:11
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. –Colossians 3:15
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. –Psalm 119:165
The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. –Psalm 29:11
You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah –Psalm 32:7
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. –Romans 16:20
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. –1 Peter 5:7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –Phillipians 4:6-7
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. –Matthew 10:29-31
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. –2 Corinthians 4:16-18
How To Find Peace When my Mind is Racing?
When we were dealing with my son’s illness, I was praying and crying out to God in my distress. The only problem was I wasn’t changing my mindset and allowing God to fill me with His perfect peace. My mind kept imagining the worse case scenario. I was going through the motions of prayer but I wasn’t surrendering my child back to Him. If we could understand the freedom of surrender, how much more would our minds experience the peace and joy God wants to give.
Jesus wants us to have peace but we must appropriate it and not allow ourselves to be swallowed up in fear and worry. We must run after and pursue peace. And when we grab ahold of it, we must never let go! Refuse to live without God’s peace. Psalm 34:14 says to “seek peace and pursue it.”
I have learned when I feel fear and torment taking over my mind to turn on praise music and begin to worship God. As I praise God, His presence fills my room and brings peace. The lies I have been believing are silenced and the fear begins to cease.
Another weapon to gain peace is to change your mindset. When you begin to feel anxious and afraid, ask yourself what you have been thinking about. Nine times out of ten, your thoughts are negative and robbing you from the peace God wants you to have. Begin replacing the negative thoughts with God’s word.
If you like the outdoors, take a walk and look around at God’s creation. If He has made the beauty and splendor of the world around you, won’t He take care of your situation?
If we could understand the freedom of surrender, how much more would our minds experience the peace and joy God wants to give.Find Joy in Today
It is Possible to Find Peace
When we are battling to experience peace in our lives, fear will often blind us from the truth. Fear brings with it torment and unrest. It enslaves us to become its servant because we can no longer function with the mind of Christ. God does not want us to live in this state of mind. It renders us ineffective and we can no longer be productive at what God has called us to do. It’s exactly what the enemy wants. But God is calling us to seek after His peace and allow it to wash over our minds. To read more about Gods deliverance, you can read my blog “How to be still Before God,” here.
When we are going through stressful situations, we need to get back to the Word of God and stand on His promises. Romans 4:20 says that “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform.”
This verse is talking about Abraham when God had promised him and Sarah a child in their old age. Instead of looking at his outward circumstances, he looked to the God of the impossible and believed His word. He did not waver in the promise of God or worry about how God was going to accomplish this birth. He held his peace and waited for God to act.
Conclussion
I don’t know what you may be going through or what you may be facing today, but I want to encourage you to seek after peace and pursue it. God hears your cries and knows your heartache. So often we find ourselves asking God why, but we need to learn to lean on Him and not be led by our emotions or fears. We need to trust that what God has said, He will accomplish in our lives. He knows our future and has the best outcome mapped out for us. Begin to chase after God’s peace and allow yourself to find joy in today.
Find Joy In Today 
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