Finding Peace and Hope in Chaos
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the theme of maintaining peace and hope in a chaotic world, drawing from Psalm 119:153-160. We began by acknowledging the reality of our turbulent world and the common Christian tendency to deny our struggles, putting on a facade of peace and happiness. However, the Psalms teach us to be honest about our suffering and to seek God's help earnestly. Psalm 119, in particular, emphasizes the importance of God's promises, laws, and love in sustaining us through difficult times.
The Psalmist's repeated plea to "preserve my life" is not a mere request for survival but a call for God to invigorate and bring us to life amidst our struggles. This plea is rooted in three key aspects: God's promises, God's laws, and God's love. First, we can have peace because God is a promise-keeping God. The entire Bible is a testament to God's faithfulness, from His covenant with Abraham to the ultimate promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Second, we can have peace because God's principles govern the universe. Living according to God's standards aligns us with His design, leading to a life of peace and flourishing. Lastly, we can have peace because God loves us deeply and personally. This love is unwavering, even when we fail, and it is the foundation of our relationship with Him.
In conclusion, the path to peace in a chaotic world involves trusting in God's promises, adhering to His principles, and embracing His love. These truths are not new, but they are essential reminders that we must hold onto, especially when life gets tough. By doing so, we can experience true peace and hope, not by denying our struggles but by facing them with the assurance of God's unwavering support.
### Key Takeaways
1. Honesty in Suffering: The Psalms teach us to be honest about our struggles and to seek God's help earnestly. Denial and facade do not lead to true peace. Instead, acknowledging our pain and asking God to look upon our suffering is the first step towards healing and deliverance. [27:45]
2. God's Promises: We can have peace because God is a promise-keeping God. The entire Bible is a testament to His faithfulness, from His covenant with Abraham to the ultimate promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Remembering God's promises helps us maintain hope and peace, even when life is challenging. [37:02]
3. God's Principles: Living according to God's standards aligns us with His design, leading to a life of peace and flourishing. When we follow God's laws, we swim with the tide of His universe, experiencing restoration and life-giving peace. [46:53]
4. God's Love: We can have peace because God loves us deeply and personally. This love is unwavering, even when we fail. Accepting God's love for us individually, not just in a general sense, is crucial for experiencing true peace. [55:23]
5. Patience in God's Plan: Waiting patiently for God's plan to unfold is essential. When things go wrong, we must remember that God keeps His promises, His principles drive the universe, and He loves us. Trusting in these truths helps us navigate through life's chaos with peace and hope. [08:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[22:09] - Introduction and Series Overview
[22:50] - The Reality of a Chaotic World
[23:49] - The Facade of Peace
[24:43] - Personal Anecdote: Family Car Rides
[25:20] - The Tendency to Fake Peace
[26:09] - The Honesty of the Psalms
[26:57] - Psalm 119: Structure and Trivia
[27:45] - Honest Plea for Deliverance
[28:29] - The Reality of Persecution
[29:09] - Living Right Amidst Suffering
[30:21] - Jeremiah's Complaint
[31:04] - Psalm 73: Envy of the Wicked
[32:07] - Repeated Plea: Preserve My Life
[32:45] - Understanding "Preserve My Life"
[33:33] - Flourishing Amidst Chaos
[34:10] - Shalom: True Peace
[34:52] - Thriving in a Problem Environment
[35:51] - The Reality of Life's Troubles
[36:27] - Three Lessons from "Preserve My Life"
[37:02] - God's Promises
[38:19] - God's Faithfulness in the Bible
[39:38] - God's Covenant with Abraham
[41:03] - God's Unbreakable Contract
[42:12] - God's Faithfulness in History
[44:08] - Forgetting God's Miracles
[45:44] - God's Covenant and Compassion
[46:19] - God's Principles
[46:53] - Video Game Analogy
[48:24] - Living by God's Standards
[50:07] - The Path of Destruction vs. Peace
[52:06] - Staying Connected to the Life-Giver
[53:13] - Wisdom and Peace
[54:18] - Choosing the Right Path
[55:23] - God's Love
[57:28] - Personal Anecdote: Teaching God's Love
[59:13] - Accepting God's Love
[01:00:17] - David's Repentance and God's Love
[01:01:32] - Jesus as Our Advocate
[01:03:37] - Recap: Three Truths for Peace
[01:04:36] - The Danger of Impatience
[01:05:32] - Movie Analogy: Waiting for the Happy Ending
[01:08:35] - Be Still and Wait for God
[01:10:01] - Personal Reflection and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 119:153-160
- Jeremiah 12:1-2
- Psalm 73:3
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the Psalmist's repeated plea in Psalm 119:153-160, and what does it signify? [32:07]
2. How does the Psalmist describe the wicked in Psalm 119:155, and what is their relationship to God's decrees? [28:29]
3. According to the sermon, what does the phrase "preserve my life" mean in the context of Psalm 119? [32:45]
4. What are the three key aspects that the Psalmist relies on to find peace and hope amidst chaos? [37:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for Christians to be honest about their struggles, according to the sermon? How does this relate to the Psalmist's plea in Psalm 119? [27:45]
2. How does the concept of God's promises provide peace, and what biblical examples were given to illustrate this? [37:02]
3. What does it mean to live according to God's principles, and how does this align with the design of the universe? [46:19]
4. How does accepting God's personal love for us individually impact our ability to experience true peace? [55:23]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need to put on a facade of peace and happiness. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? [23:49]
2. How can you remind yourself of God's promises during challenging times? Share a specific promise from the Bible that you hold onto. [37:02]
3. In what ways can you align your daily actions with God's principles to experience peace and flourishing? Provide a practical example. [46:19]
4. Think about a situation where you struggled to believe that God loves you personally. How can you work on accepting this truth more fully? [55:23]
5. How can you practice patience in waiting for God's plan to unfold in your life? Share a current situation where you need to trust in God's timing. [08:35]
6. Identify one area in your life where you need to be more honest about your struggles. How can your small group support you in this? [27:45]
7. What steps can you take to stay connected to the life-giver, especially when facing life's chaos? Discuss a specific spiritual discipline that helps you. [52:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Honesty in Suffering
In a world that often encourages us to hide our pain and struggles, the Psalms teach us a different approach. Psalm 119:153-160 shows us the importance of being honest about our suffering and seeking God's help earnestly. The Psalmist's plea to "preserve my life" is a heartfelt cry for God to look upon his affliction and deliver him. This honesty is the first step towards healing and deliverance. Denial and facade do not lead to true peace; instead, acknowledging our pain and asking God to intervene is crucial. By being transparent with God about our struggles, we open the door for His healing and peace to enter our lives. [27:45]
Psalm 119:153-154 (ESV): "Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!"
Reflection: Think of a current struggle or pain you are facing. Can you take a moment to be honest with God about it and ask for His help and deliverance today?
Day 2: God's Promises
One of the key reasons we can have peace in a chaotic world is because God is a promise-keeping God. The entire Bible is a testament to His faithfulness, from His covenant with Abraham to the ultimate promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Remembering God's promises helps us maintain hope and peace, even when life is challenging. God's promises are not just historical facts; they are living truths that apply to our lives today. By holding onto these promises, we can navigate through life's difficulties with a sense of assurance and hope. [37:02]
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV): "By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you can hold onto today? How does this promise give you hope and peace in your current situation?
Day 3: God's Principles
Living according to God's standards aligns us with His design, leading to a life of peace and flourishing. When we follow God's laws, we swim with the tide of His universe, experiencing restoration and life-giving peace. God's principles are not arbitrary rules but are designed for our well-being and flourishing. By adhering to these principles, we align ourselves with the Creator's design, leading to a more harmonious and peaceful life. [46:53]
Psalm 19:7-8 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."
Reflection: In what area of your life can you better align with God's principles? What practical steps can you take today to live according to His standards?
Day 4: God's Love
We can have peace because God loves us deeply and personally. This love is unwavering, even when we fail. Accepting God's love for us individually, not just in a general sense, is crucial for experiencing true peace. God's love is the foundation of our relationship with Him, and it is this love that sustains us through life's challenges. By embracing God's love, we can find peace and security, knowing that we are cherished and valued by our Creator. [55:23]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you embrace God's love for you more fully today? What difference would it make in your life to truly believe that God loves you deeply and personally?
Day 5: Patience in God's Plan
Waiting patiently for God's plan to unfold is essential. When things go wrong, we must remember that God keeps His promises, His principles drive the universe, and He loves us. Trusting in these truths helps us navigate through life's chaos with peace and hope. Patience is not passive waiting but an active trust in God's timing and wisdom. By being still and waiting for God, we demonstrate our faith in His perfect plan and timing. [08:35]
Psalm 37:7 (ESV): "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice patience and trust in God's plan? How can you actively demonstrate your trust in God's timing today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We have a really bad habit of saying we should have peace. We should have calm. We should have hope. we don't. So we fake it. We're in turmoil inside. Now, I know none of you guys relate to this at all. Nobody online's going, that's me. But we're, we're, we're in turmoil, but we don't think we can let anybody see it. So we delude ourselves. We delude everybody else because we've been told we're supposed to have peace. We've been told we're supposed to have hope, but nobody's given us biblical mechanisms to make it happen." [25:20] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "One of the coolest things about the Bible, especially the Psalms, is the book of Psalms. The book of songs is what that means. The book of songs. It never pretends things are better than they really are. We're going to go to Psalm 119, the longest of the bunch, 174 verses. It is humongous. And we're not going to read, we're going to read eight verses. Okay? Because, so if you want to, let's, we're going to start in Psalm 119, verse 153. You know you're deep into something when you're on verse 153." [26:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When it says preserve my life, it's not, Lord, don't let me die. When I hear preserve my life, that way of translating, translating that word, my tendency is to go, Oh, God, don't let anything kill me. That's not what it's saying. It's not saying, Lord, don't let me die. The Hebrew means, cause me to live. If you read the, if you've got a King James, remember the King James? It says, quicken me. Bring me to life. In the middle of all the junk, in the middle of all the bad stuff, in the middle of all the negative stuff that's around me everywhere, bring me to life. Help me to flourish." [33:33] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Shalom isn't the absence of anxiety. A lot of times we think peace, we think that means I'm not crazy right now. I'm not totally distraught. No, peace in Hebrew is not simply a state of mind, but total harmony that flows from a right relationship with God. Shalom, peace. I am living a bountiful life. My life is in balance, and I am flourishing, and I am thriving. Now notice, that's happening even though the bad stuff's there." [34:10] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's goal for your life is not for you to just go, oh, I'm making it. Not yet. We talked about last week, and we'll do this week too, the word peace in Hebrew is the word shalom. You know that. You've heard shalom. And shalom isn't the absence of anxiety. A lot of times we think peace, we think that means I'm not crazy right now. I'm not totally distraught. No, peace in Hebrew is not simply a state of mind, but total harmony that flows from a right relationship with God." [34:10] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "How do I maintain peace and hope in a world where I do the right stuff and bad things happen to me? And that person over there does bad stuff and they just keep on winning. How do I thrive in that? How do I thrive in that environment? And in this psalm, this section of the psalm, you probably didn't notice that we read it. There's one phrase that gets repeated three times in those eight verses." [31:04] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I can have peace because God keeps his promises. God's a promise-keeping God. That is so important to keep in front of your brain because nobody else thinks this way, right? Anybody here ever think God takes care of other people more than me? Not because you're mad at God, just because you have a low opinion of yourself. You know, God loves them. He probably likes me. I'm not sure." [37:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I can have peace because God's principles drive his universe. Any time I'm play... I'll use this illustration. I use it all the time, but I can't think of a better one. Because back before I got back into school, I played video games some. Now I just study and preach and church stuff. But there was a time I played video games, and I had different ones. I'd pop in a different disc in my Xbox, and I'd play. And then I'd change games, and I'd switch." [46:53] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I can have peace because God loves me. Now, I'll be honest, I debated how to phrase this one because realistically, I could have said more theologically and it would have sounded a little higher, I can have peace because of God's great love. That's true, right? I can have peace because of God's great love. But like I said, most of us don't struggle that much with God's great love, we struggle with God's love for me." [55:23] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God loves you. God's crazy about you. Matter of fact, first John, he says this way, my dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. I'd rather you didn't sin. I want you to keep God's standards. But if anyone does sin, this is a great word. We have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father, Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." [01:01:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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