By Andrea Goebel
God’s Way
It wasn’t the first time I found myself standing on a stepstool, staring at the shelves in our pantry. This time, however, instead of scouring for snacks, I simply closed my eyes and rested my forehead on the top shelf.
Just breathe, I told myself. Just take a moment and calm down.
It was in the middle of a tense moment with kids, as were most of the moments when I sought solace in the corner of our kitchen. I needed to take a break and regroup, but often, I just searched for some sweet treat to distract me from my angst and frustration.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love dessert. However, when I was younger, I didn’t know how to deal with the uncomfortable feelings that come with being a kid and growing up. It wasn’t always fun, and in my moments of sadness, I often turned to my favorite sweet treats to cheer myself up.
However, as I often realized, as soon as the sugar high wore off, I was left feeling hollow. Somewhere deep inside, I knew that masking my sadness wasn’t a solution, but it seemed like a quick fix in the moment.
Later, I learned that I was really just lonely and searching for the love that only God can provide.
As I grew up and after I met my husband, I developed a healthier relationship with food, but I still turned to it on occasion when I felt overwhelmed by the stresses of life.
During moments such as these, when I found myself in the middle of conflict, I realized I was looking for something that food could not ever provide: the peace that only God can give.
It’s easy to turn to the creature comforts of this world to seek peace, but it’s just not possible without God. And the only way to learn that is to practice it, whether it’s during a moment of temptation or a season of turmoil.
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he writes, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (6-7).
It may seem overwhelming to practice thanksgiving in the midst of hard days and seasons as we cry out to God to help us. However, I’m learning that the only way to attain peace is to seek it by trusting God — moment by moment, day after day. He is the only one who will truly fulfill us, and he is the only one who can heal us of our hurts. Whatever we are going through, if we give our pain to him, he will pull us through — even when it feels impossible to comprehend.
A friend and I were talking recently about our trials. As I told her what my family has experienced, I surmised that I guess God plans to use it somehow to help us grow. I’m not sure how, but I do believe if we trust him, and we allow him to work through us and in us as we endure our hardships, he will use them to help us. She followed my statement up with one of her own: God always uses our experiences in this world for his glory. And while I don’t always see or understand that right now, God is good, and I believe him.
Now, I just have to have faith and trust him. I’m still learning to do that. When I am tempted to give in to despair, I remember God’s faithfulness, and I rest in the assurance that he is always with me.