Inner Peace
by Annalene Holtzhausen
A relationship with the Lord always brings growth and maturity, as we learn to know Him more and more. At times it may feel as if we’re stuck, but it’s during times like these that the Lord is doing a deeper work within us and preparing us for something new – maybe a greater understanding of something, or a new season in our lives, or even the unfolding of the plans and purposes He has for us. All He requires is a willing heart that yields to Him and searches for Him, even during the hard times. The Lord loves a teachable heart which submits to Him, and continues to trust Him, no matter what.
There have been times in my life when I’ve felt far away from the Lord, and just stuck in the same spot. The truth, though, is that He’s never far from us. We’re the ones who ‘move away’ from Him. Once we’ve given our lives to the Lord, He’s in us and will never leave us nor forsake us: ‘For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He abandon His inheritance’ (Psalm 94:14).
Times like these have never failed to teach me that my thoughts were just slightly turned away from the truth of God’s Word. Somewhere along the way I yielded to wrong thinking and turned away from His truth. It reminds me of a railway track that splits into two directions: initially the two tracks are right next to each other where they split, but as the train goes along in one direction, the other track can eventually not even be seen anymore. The Lord longs to bring truth so we can get back ‘on to His track’.
As seen in today’s scripture, a mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity robs us of inner peace, and of being the Lord’s representatives or spokesmen. Unwarranted doubt concerning the Lord’s faithfulness is described as worthless. In the NKJV, it’s described as ‘vile’.
When we’re battling with ongoing unrest in our inner man, and continuously struggling with unsettling emotions such as anxiety, anger, doubt, stress, fear or despair, it may be time to search our hearts for any mistaken attitudes we may be harboring towards the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness. Often our focus is on the specific unrest we’re experiencing, and we forget to search and ask the Lord the reason for it being there. Some people live with a constant feeling of pressure, and physically experience the fear, anxiety or anger in their bodies. It becomes such a mission to ‘get rid’ of the emotion, that we become side-tracked. We may pray, trust the Lord and go for ministry, but nothing seems to change.
Today’s scripture may just be the answer to all our searching. If we allow a mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity in, we also allow fear and doubt in. All we need to do is to repent and turn our hearts back to the Lord in trust and submission. He will bring the restoration needed in every situation.
‘Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5).
Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for yielding to a wrong attitude of despair and self-pity. By doing this, I’ve moved out from under Your protection by allowing in doubt and fear. Thank You that You’ve never left me. Please help me to separate the precious from the worthless. Restore me to a place where I can again be Your representative in all situations. I ask this in Your name only. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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