BFF is now on Facebook! Please visit and join us in releasing God's powerful Word to our generation!
God's peace can help us live above anxieties as we learn to trust in Him!
The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
Finding Peace in Terrible Times
Paul J. Bucknell
_________________________
Understanding Tragedies | Answers for Tragedgy | Finding Peace in Tragic Times | Explanation and Warning of Judgment | Mass murders | Big Learning Curve
Purpose
Finding Peace in Terrible Times shows a few steps through which one can find peace in times of horror and injustice.
- How can I find peace in such terrible times?
The first thing we need to do is to turn off the news except for disciplined short updates. Otherwise we will perpetually see and hear the same repetitive pictures/soundbites which will lodge themselves into our memory. The problem is terrible enough. Don't exasperate it. We need to sleep at night.
- Recognize our limitations.
We feel like we need to be in control by knowing everything. Actually, many things we see and hear are slanted for security purposes. There is a good chance that many things one hears are purposely deceptive.
Being up to date on the news does not make us in control! But even if we did know all the facts, we are rather helpless. This is the difference between God and man. God knows all things and can do what He desires. Mankind at his best knows only some things and can't even respond as we would want to those matters.
- We need the Word of God to fill our thoughts.
Disturbing news can hinder us from getting God's perspectives into our lives. If we are worried, the Word of God has no way of settling into our hearts. Below are some Bible passages with prayers.
Read these passages aloud to be able to focus on them. After this, memorize one or two passages and meditate upon them. Say the prayers next to the verses aloud.
- What passages can we read? What prayers can be said?
The actual verses (in NASB) can be read by clicking the underlined verses below.
Philippians 4:4-13 Seeking peace
Lord, please bring your peace that passeth understanding to my soul. You know my troubled heart. I'm scared. I fear. I grieve. Please comfort those around me and give me the words to comfort those who are broken. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 40 God's sovereignty and care
Dear Lord, I acknowledge You and You alone are the sole commander of the universe. I understand so little. I am grieved that sin can hurt, kill and maim many thousands in a few short hours. I call to You to show your majestic ways to us but also pour out your strength and care to our desperate souls. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Acts 4:29-31 Importance of prayer
Dear Father, the passion of prayer has been lost from my soul. I have forgotten what prayer really should be. Light a fire in my soul. Let it burn the absence of care from my soul O God, help us now. Help me. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Habakkuk 1 Problem of evil
Lord, I do not understand why you have the evil ones punishing those who are not so evil. I with Habakkuk plead ignorance. This can only mean one thing: we are not as righteous as we thought we were. And it is true. We have left you in the dust of our modernization. We thought we could get along without you. And then you took down our defenses. We see how vulnerable we are. Call us back Lord; call us back to You. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Daniel 9:4-19 Repentance
Dear Forgiving Lord, we have deeply grieved you. We have even forgotten You in the busyness of the day. Lord, we call upon you to forgive us for our national and personal sins. Deliver us from evil. Cleanse us from our wickedness. And enable us to live faithfully for you. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen
Deuteronomy 30 Restoration
Dear Father, we have a decision before us, as a nation, as individuals. Are we going to repent and turn back to You for blessing or are we going to resist and be like Pharaoh? Lord, may it be the former. May the pride of our hearts melt into humility and our anger into confession. Yes, the men who killed are evil, but we are not so innocent. Our sin might be different in degrees, but we like them have forsaken You for the gods of the lands. Please forgive us. Please give me a repentant heart! In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Psalm 69:13-19 A prayer for compassion
Dear Father in Heaven, we seek your much needed compassion. We seek your precious comforting hand upon our lives. If you do not intercede, who will? If you do not help us, we will sink. Lord God be gracious and reach out to me and those around who are burdened with this tragedy. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray. Amen.
Other references and questions on tragedy
What does God think about tragedies?
What does God think about natural disasters?
Is it wrong to want judgment upon these people?
Is there a better way? Can we pray for them?
Doesn't man just disappear after death?
What happens after death?
How can I find peace in such terrible times?
What scripture passages can we read? What prayers can be said?
Why does God allow such things to happen?
How does a loving God allow such things as tragedies?
Other Relevant Topics
Crossing from anxious thoughts to peace
What are the 7 steps to seek forgiveness?
How does one deal with spirit of revenge?
How did David personally deal with an horrible evil event?
A new basic discipleship series has a free booklet explaining how we should biblically think of natural and unnatural disasters.
info@foundationsforfreedom.net
Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted:
(C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1988