Inner balance and faith

We live in a time when more and more people end up being affected by depression, loneliness, despair, etc. This brings emotional instability. How can you keep your inner balance in all circumstances? How can you have joy in everything you do?

Question: “Peace, brother Vasile. I have a repentant girl in the church, but she understands the real relationship with God more through emotions. She feels good in church, she believes in the Lord, but if she has problems in her daily life, she thinks something is wrong. I explained to her that we rely on His Word no matter what comes in life, but she says that God wants us to be joyful, happy, not oppressed. She does not understand that, in fact, her foundation must be Scripture, not emotions.”

I would very much like this message to help those who are in such a situation and I pray to bring problem-solving, joy and a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ with a mindset rooted in Him. In Christ you will find peace, joy, strength, so that you can serve God and have joy on this earth.

Jesus must be our foundation

It is true that God wants us to be joyful and happy, only that He wants us to find this joy not in circumstances, nor to maintain it from them. He wants our joy to be found in our Lord Jesus Christ and sustained by God. He and His teaching should be our foundation, not the situations of life. When we receive this joy from the things around us, it soon disappears.

The apostle Paul wrote the epistle to the Philippians while in prison and not knowing if he would be released. He often uses an exhortation in this epistle: “Rejoice!” A man who is in some rather difficult circumstances, in which he does not seem to have any reason to rejoice, urges those who are free to rejoice. Why? He learned that his joy should not depend on circumstances. Paul’s joy was rooted in God. This is what each of us must learn. We must detach ourselves from the emotional approach to things, and let our joy and fellowship be in God.

Communion with God brings us inner peace and balance

King David was detached from circumstances and found joy, rest, and peace in God. I think of the time when Saul was chasing him and he entered the cave, hiding and being heartbroken by circumstances. In such situations you might have no peace, but he, being in the cave, composed a psalm. In the most difficult circumstances of life he turned his heart to God. This brought him peace. It is true that he wrote about very emotional and very oppressive states, but he did not choose to always remain so.

The apostle Paul says:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NASB)

Let us gently accept the circumstances of life in order to maintain our inner balance

Gentleness is a reasonable way to react to circumstances. Worries rob us of joy. Whenever someone comes to tell you their worries, their problems, lead the person to prayer. Pray together and tell God your problems.

It is not enough to stop at this. Usually, we are tempted to come before Him with displeasure, when we are unhappy, surrounded by circumstances. But we should thank God, because the state of contentment brings us joy and peace, while dissatisfaction brings us oppression, turmoil. You need to teach this person to give thanks for the good things they have. This attitude keeps the human mind healthy. Dissatisfaction severely affects the mind and quality of life.

God is the One who gives us peace. What a beautiful promise:

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 NASB)

When the heart and mind are in Christ Jesus, then we have the peace of God.

We have to choose the things that surround us

The same Paul also said:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 NASB)

So choose the things that inspire you, including people.

As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:7 NASB)

Do you see how many times God promises us PEACE? As I told you, peace is a state of mind. Every believer must reach it, which is a state anchored in God.

I pray so much that God will help you to have this peace, not to look for it in circumstances, because they change from day to day. Our sinful nature grows bored with any circumstance. But as for you, learn to find your inner peace and balance in God. Choose to seek it in the Word of God and this peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your thoughts in Christ Jesus!

I urge you to join a Bible study group and grow in your knowledge of God. His word is a source of peace for our hearts. Contact us and we will help you join a group: studiu@moldovacrestina.md, +373 (69) 966779.

Translated by Aliona Soltan