2023 is upon us and I’m sure – like every other month of January – you have contemplated some of the infamous new year’s resolutions:
- I’m going get fitter this year
- I’m going to lose that extra weight
- I’m going to spend more time with my family
In general, our goals tend to focus on external things, but have you given any consideration to the fact that, what you may be need most, is a serious make-over from the inside out?
There’s a ‘normal’ state of being that we are all too well-acquainted with – STRESS. That highly-toxic Companion always seems to be within arm’s reach. As you entered the new year, you probably found, that the short December ‘stress-pause’, was hardly enough. And as January loomed ever closer, you could see that backpack of worries waiting for you, right where you left it.
There is a lesser-known state of being, that you may have stumbled across, on your life journey. It’s that elusive Acquaintance called PEACE. There are those rare moments when a major stressor finally reaches its conclusion and you are flooded with a sense of relief. For that moment, your spirit feels free, there’s air in your lungs and everything simply seems right with the world.
But I am wondering if you have ever met a shy Stranger called – ‘PEACE in the midst of chaos’. At first glance, she would appear to be a contradiction. Let’s be honest, it simply doesn’t make sense that one could experience peace when one’s circumstance are in turmoil. But there is an interesting phrase in scripture that attests to her existence – “and the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6b)
What if my New Year’s resolution for 2023 was to become better acquainted with this shy Stranger? How exactly would I go about this? Whilst I know that the power to make all my daily stress disappear is beyond me, I feel a sense of anticipation and hope at finding this PEACE despite my chaos.
As I reflect back on 2022, I realise that most of the stress in my life seems to exist in my mind. There is very little physical dangers that I’m trying to navigate, but it’s the internal war zone and bombs of disappointment that terrorize me.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You”. A mind ‘stayed’ on God, is an unusual phrase – not one we would commonly use in this day and age, but I like the sound of it. Simply put, ‘stayed’ means to lean against and to be refreshed.
I imagine myself on a long tiring journey. I’m thirsty and my legs are weary. I stop for a moment and lean up against a shaded tree trunk. I drink a large mouthful of cold, refreshing water… And I begin to feel a trickle of peace. I find myself reflecting on God – on everything He has already brought me through – His provision and goodness and faithfulness. And in this moment of rest, with these thoughts foremost in my mind, I experience the wonderful refreshing waterfall of His peace washing over me – body, soul and spirit.
Through this reflection I realize something else – simple, yet profound. I must STOP if want to catch my breath! And in fact, if I were to take regular rest breaks, before I reached breaking point, surely that would bode well for my soul. I’m reminded of the wonderful creation story and the verse found in Genesis 2:2 “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done”. The God of the universe, who doesn’t get tired, took a day of rest to model a key principle for us mere mortals.
In our technologically-bombarded world, we are switched on 24/7. Even our weekends have become so busy with shopping, family, sports, commitments, church activities and catching up on all the things that fell through the cracks during the week. But we can change this! With commitment and careful planning, we can free up a day to simply stop and refresh.
Post-COVID there are so many new, innovative ways to save time. We can do our grocery shopping online at night and schedule the delivery to our place of work the next day. With video call technology, we might be able to save hours on the road – by doing online meetings – and eliminate travel stress. By being just a little more organised in the Monday to Friday, I know we can secure that day of rest on the weekend!
Furthermore, I think 2023 is the year to also redefine ‘rest’. Rest has become some version of watching TV or scrolling through social media and video clips (and often doing those things simultaneously!) Whilst the body may be passive, there’s very little soul and mind refreshing happening there. What happened to the joy of human companionship and laughter? Walks in nature, settling down with a good book or even sneaking in an afternoon nap?
So… here goes! 2023 New Year’s Resolution … Take Two
- I will STOP for one day each week and rest!
- I will turn off all technology for a few hours and rest my mind
- Daily, I will ‘stay’ my mind on God – finding my strength by leaning up against His
- I am committed to becoming better acquainted with that shy Stranger called – ‘PEACE in the midst of chaos’.
So, dear friends, instead of limping over the finish line, on the 31st December 2023, I pray that we will apply ourselves to these goals. And as we cross over into 2024, may we do so with a bounce in our step and the words of that old well-known refrain in our hearts, “It is well with my soul”.
