“Where Is My Peace?”

 
Psalm 42:1-5  Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses
To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.
42 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So, pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?” 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. For the help of His countenance.
 
God’s highest priority for our lives is to develop an intimate and growing relationship with Him. He made us to thirst for Him, as we thirst for water and to seek Him as we seek relief from a parched throat.
 
Let me read to you a devotional from Our Daily Bread:
 
May 7, 1992. During the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century, German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded her of Scripture promises about God's provision and keeping. Then, going out to the garden to be alone, he too broke down and wept. He felt he had come to his darkest hour. Soon afterward, Gerhardt felt the burden lifted and sensed anew the Lord's presence. Taking his pen, he wrote this hymn:
"Give to the winds thy fears; hope, and be undismayed"
"God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears; God shall lift up thy head"
"Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears the way"
"Wait thou His time, so shall the night soon end in joyous day."      (Powerpoint Hymn)
 
Have you ever been where Gerhardt and his wife were at that point in their lives? Everything seems so good and then your life seemingly falls apart. The mountain top experiences of life are great. You know what I mean, as that saying goes, “I’m On Top Of The World” We can feel Gods presence so real when we are on top of the mountain. Let’s be honest here, when we reach the valleys in life we may question if God is even there with us.
 
When everything in life is going well, its easy to praise God, correct! You have that mountain top feeling, I have peace, I am calm, I have God with me, I have nothing to worry about.
So…what about the times, when we have to go down into the valleys of life, when things are not peaceful, instead of calmness, I’m restless, can we still say, “God is with me”, Or does it now turn into question, “Is God with me?” Its easy to lift up our hands in praise when things are going well. But what those times when instead of lifting up our hands…we need to be hands and knees down on the floor in prayer. Is God still there with us as well? Of course He is!!!
 
So…let us look through these verses today and see, “Where Is My Peace?”
 
Notice the subscription “The Sons of Korah” – This was a musical family in Israel. Korah was a priest who led a rebellion against Aaron and Moses. As a result, Korah faced God’s wrath. The psalmist is in exile from the Temple. As stated in verse 4, He had worshipped there many times and desired to once again return to the Holy place. He is not just suffering from a craving to go to the Temple. He is in great anguish over the fact that he is separated from the Lord’s house.
“My tears have been my food day and night”.
 
Have you ever been to this point? To a place where there is discouragement and anguish every- where you turn? Have you been to a place where you think you have reached rock bottom and then the bottom falls out? We live in a world that is full of trouble. Things are bad and seem to only be getting worse. But I would like to share some good news today, even in the midst of the greatest storm of life, you can possess the ultimate peace.
 
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
 
Let us look back at our previews verses, I would like to pose a few questions, the first is this:
 
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HELP? v3-4. YOU MAY HAVE TO ENDURE A TIME OF MISERY, v3
 
Psalm 42:3-4
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?” 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
 
“For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God”, Basically the psalmist was saying, “I used to go with my brothers and sisters, to the house of God”, (Church)
Remember, the psalmist was in exile for going against Moses and Aaron. (Against God) So, he had to face Gods wrath, and this was the result. Being away from God has a result of emptiness, loneliness, restless, you name it. No God, no peace!
 
The psalmist was in pure agony. There seemed to be no relief in sight. He didn’t just have spurts of trouble his was a constant pain. You may be facing a time of misery in your own life. Let’s examine some of the things we know, that we can go through in this life, that we seem to be in the same anguish as this psalmist. For example:
 
1) Your household may be in turmoil. Your marriage may be falling apart and on the brink of divorce. Your children may be going through some challenges, rebelling against you.
 
2) Your financial situation may be in dire straits, you may not know how you are ever going to make ends meet.
 
3) You may be unemployed and willing to work, yet you cannot find employment.   Discouragement may have set in to the point where you don’t even feel like trying anymore.
 
4) Health problems may have come in your life or someone in your family. You have received some bad news from the doctor and you aren’t sure if you can face the pain that is coming.
 
These are just a few of the troubles that we are familiar with, and are all common. You may be in a valley and it seems that no one could possibly comprehend the agony in your life. You may be at a place that you are ready to throw your hands up and quit. Usually when there is a time of misery, there is also a time of uncertainty, doubts, that comes with it.
 
When we face a time of uncertainty, the most common question is mentioned in v3 “Where is your God?” This question was asked to the psalmist.
 
Many in our day are asking us the same question. People hear us talk of that wonderful day when Christ shall return to take us home to Glory. We tell our friends and family about how great our God is, and then they see us downcast… troubled. Then this question gets asked, “where is your God?” The lost world will see a Christian suffer and say, “where is your God?” If He is so great why are you going through this time in your life? We may not have all the answers to life’s questions, but we do know of One answer and His name is Jesus!
 
Troubles and trials will always come with an element of uncertainty. We are in the middle of them and we do not know what the outcome is. We do not know how long they will last or what the end result will be? THIS IS WHERE FAITH MATTERS THE MOST! Not only are lost people confused as to why Christians suffer, many times we will ask the same questions. Lord, why me? The answer to this “why me” question is found in…
 
 
 
 
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
 
We may face times of uncertainty...We may still ask the question of “Lord, Why Me"...We may feel all alone... it is in these times that we must remember, though we may be uncertain, and things are out of control… GOD IS NOT, HE IS IN CONTROL!!!
 
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
 
After being reminded of all these great truths, when times of uncertainty comes, do you seek help? Do you still hold on to HOPE?  There is no question about it, troubles and hardships will come. In these times we must cling to our blessed hope. Jesus Christ.
 
You see, these trials that we go through will reveal who we really are and who God really is. What I mean is… are you holding on to God, because He is holding on to you. Or, are you just holding on to God…only when the good things are happening to you? Sadly, these are the truths that we live in. many will abandon Christ when things are not going well. Scripture is full of these types of people. Sadly…they are still around today!
 
Often, many of us are like the apostles after Jesus ascended. We are just gazing in the clouds looking for His return. Acts 1:11...
 
Acts 1:11
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
 
You see…We don’t have to wait for Him to return just to receive peace. He is ever present with us. He said he will never leave or forsake us! We don’t have to wait for the next life to have hope, to have peace, or to find peace. We can have hope, we can have peace in this life.
 
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
So… “Where Is My Peace?” You can have it, in the here and now. You can have joy, hope, peace, in your Savior now. We don’t have to wait for the afterlife to receive all His promises, we receive all of those in the here and now.
 
Let’s go back to the psalmist story:
 
Psalm 42:5
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. For the help of His countenance.
Psalm 42:5 (ESV)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation.
 
In the midst of the psalmist’s troubles he finds hope. He reminds himself of who belongs to. If you will notice at this point nothing has changed. He is still in exile from the temple he is still in the middle of the storm. But at this point he finds Hope! We can find this same hope. This involves a spiritual assessment. We must follow the example of the psalmist and search ourselves to find the hope that is within. We too can say “Why are you cast down o my soul” What is heavy in your heart right now, that you feel that there is no hope? We can have peace, we can have hope, even in the valley. Even when things are falling apart., When we are in the midst of despair and discouragement we can say just like the old song “It is well with my soul”
It is well with my soul, because it belongs to Christ!
 
There is sweet assurance that we can experience in the middle of the valley. We can endure the valley if we will put our hope in Jesus. So many people look to everything other than Jesus when they are in the valley. Nothing in this world can give you the hope, joy and peace that comes only from our Savior Jesus Christ!
 
The road is too rough.
" I said, "Dear Lord, there are stones that hurt me so."
And He said, "Dear child, I understand, I walked it long ago."
"But there's a cool green path," I said; "Let me walk there for a time."
"No child," He gently answered me, "The green path does not climb."
"My burden," I said, "Is far too great, How can I bear it so?"
"My child," He said, "I remember the weight; I carried My cross, you know."
But I said, "I wish there were friends with me. Who would make my way their own."
"Oh, yes," He said, "Gethsemane was hard to bear alone." And so, I climb the stony path,
Content at last to know, That, where my Master had not gone, I would not need to go.
                                                                                                                                              Olga J. Weiss
                                                                     (POWERPOINT)
 
You see…Jesus has done it all, Jesus paid it all, just so you and I can have an abundant life. A life of joy, peace, and assurance that we are not in the valleys alone. He is there with us.
 
In Conclusion:
 
The trouble that you are facing may be difficult now, your heart may be heavy and don’t know what to do… but it may be an opportunity for God to work a miracle in your life. He may use this time to teach you, to strengthen you… He may use this time to purify you, He may use this time to prune you so that you become more fruitful and He may use this time to teach others through you. You can be His testimony of what He has done in your life while in the valleys.
 
Here is another Daily Bread story:
 
Not long after arriving in New Hebrides as a pioneer missionary, John G. Paton and his wife rejoiced in the coming of a baby son to gladden their home. But the joy was short-lived. Soon death took both his wife and child, and Dr. Paton had to dig their graves and bury his loved ones with his own hands. In writing of this experience, he testified, "If it had not been for Jesus and the fellowship and grace He afforded me, I am certain I would have gone mad or died of grief beside their lonely graves." Marvelously strengthened from above, the bereaved servant of God found that the promises of the Word were able to sustain him through the heartache and sorrow of his tragic loss. - Our Daily Bread, August 6, 1992
                                                                       (POWERPOINT)
 
Whatever you may face in this life, remember that God is in control. Jesus cares when you are hurting, and that is where you can find your peace. Let me close with this last verse…
 
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
 
So… “Where Is My Peace?”  It’s in Jesus