Wisdom and Peace

We can't see into the future. And therefore, many decisions we want to or have to make, are sometimes difficult. A big question amongst Christians is the question of how to experience the will of God for my life? This pre-occupies us and moves us within our hearts, our souls. Within our changed inner man, we have no desire to go our own way. Nevertheless, we have to proceed forward in order to determine where the path can and should lead. Especially if you have already had painful experiences due to some wrong decisions, and don't want to repeat the same mistakes. How can we know what to do and what not to? In John 14:26-27 at His earthly departure, Jesus tells the disciples the following: ''But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'' The Holy Spirit is also a spirit of recollection. This means that, when we diligently study the Word of God, the Holy Spirit of God will bring to memory concrete revelations to guide us at important moments of our lives. And how do we know which path to take? As Jesus said – through the peace that HE will give us. A peace which the world doesn't know, nor want to know. To act according to God's will is wisdom. And it always goes hand in hand with this divine peace. When you don't experience this inner peace during your deliberations and decision-making, it would be wrong to still go ahead and make a decision although this divine peace is absent.

In Psalm 23:3-4 David writes: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” This also means that the, sometimes complicated, circumstances in my life, do not always mean that I am on the wrong path. It can also sometimes mean that God uses these circumstances to lead us onto the right path. Sometimes it takes a while for this peace, which directs us and gives us assurance, to set in. This world and society does not make it easy for us Christians to find our way. Honestly, I would be very surprised if the life of a Christian generally always leads from one clear course to the next. Following Jesus in leaps and bounds, is rather like a sack full of holes, where much is lost when one achieves the goal with ease. It is more like (for good) a perpetual struggle which is not always straightforward. Also a struggle for right decisions and a requirement to stay focussed on the guidelines which we encounter on our way. At the same time, we are also being tested. Jesus said that He would not leave us as orphans, but would come to us through the Holy Spirit (as pledge to the security of our salvation). And He said that we will be filled with His peace. Our future is in God's good hands – God knows what He has planned for you and me. HE gives us peace, hope and a future. We read in Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.” Truth and corresponding wisdom always has to do with the fact that we must learn this in order to reach a divine guiding peace. God helps us. Amen.

Jörg Bauer