Finding Peace in All Circumstances

READY

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.” -- Acts 16:25-26 NLT

SET

I have experienced many challenging circumstances during my college basketball career. One of the most significant situations came during my freshman season when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I remember driving to the hospital and seeking the Lord in prayer. He gave me a deep sense of peace, and I later realized that God gave me that peace not just for my own sake, but for the sake of my mom. I knew that even while she was battling cancer, she was still worried about me. So, when she saw the peace that God gave me, she also found peace, and it allowed her to focus on beating cancer. My mom ended up beating it and is still cancer free today.

The world of athletics, and life in general, is filled with challenging circumstances. Coaches and athletes are forced to overcome disappointing losses, injuries, and even pandemics. As believers during challenging situations, we must seek the true source of peace, and by the power of Jesus, be a light that demonstrates the peace of God.

As coaches and athletes, it is understandable to find peace after overcoming a difficult situation. Yet, in Acts 16:16-40, we see an incredible example of finding peace during a difficult situation for the sake of others. The apostle Paul and Silas were in Philippi where they found themselves facing persecution due to casting out a demon in the name of Jesus. While they were in prison, they were praying and worshipping God. So, despite being in prison, Paul and Silas knew that God was the source of peace and deserving of their worship. We see Paul later affirm this in Philippians 4:7 where he writes to the church, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It is important to remember that Paul wrote those words to the believers in Philippi while he was a prisoner in Rome.

During their worship, an earthquake occurred, opened all the prison doors, and unfastened the prisoners’ bindings. When the prison guard came and saw the situation, he assumed all the prisoners had escaped and planned to take his own life. But Paul and Silas stopped him and proclaimed the truth of the Gospel. The jailer believed, and he and his entire household experienced salvation through faith in Jesus.

So, we are to remember that Jesus is always deserving of our worship in the middle of difficult situations. Also, we must not lose sight of our purpose to glorify God in all that we do. Finally, like Paul and Silas, we are equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit to lead others to the one true source of peace in all circumstances, which is Jesus Christ.

GO

• Do you find yourself worshipping God in the middle of difficult situations?
• What individual in your life needs to experience the peace of God?
• How will you lead that person to experience the peace of God?

WORKOUT

2 Thessalonians 3:16; Luke 1:79

OVERTIME

“Lord, I thank You for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I thank You for being the source of peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray that You give me the strength to worship You in all circumstances. I pray that You give me the boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and to live a life that glorifies You in all that I experience here on earth. I pray these things in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Brett Campbell