The Path to Peace

May is mental health month and this past week was Children's mental health week. More and more children are seeing therapist and being prescribed medication as the joy of childhood is taken from them. At a very young age children are already without hope. In an information age they suffer from information overload which is confusing and forces them to grow up faster than they should. The headlines say it all, "Across the suburbs, stress abounds" "Strategies for Managing Stress" "Coping with Stress". How can we find that elusive path to peace?

The promise of a pill. We all want a magic pill. "Just make it go away" is something I hear all the time or "I can't deal with it anymore." As a guardian ad litem (a person appointed by the court's to look out for the best interest of children) I have seen the pain children suffer as a result of broken homes and broken lives. Every day I encounter people at Administer Justice who do not know how they can face another day. The problems are profound, the pain is palpable, but the promise of peace is possessable.

"When life takes a turn, put your faith in us" reads an advertisement from Provena Mercy Medical Center. I strongly disagree. Many people want to put there faith in me. They think I can fix there problem for them, but I can't. It is always wrong to put faith in an imperfect person who will disappoint. Do not put your faith in men, but rather put your faith in the one who made men. Recent headlines highlight the danger of relying on professionals. The former psychologist at Delnor Hospital is being accused of practicing witchcraft and several patients are suing this individual and the hospital. While we all want a magic potion to make our problems go away, we usually don't mean that literally.

There is nothing wrong with medication. In my experience it is sometimes necessary to help a person focus and deal with difficult issues which must be dealt with in order to achieve physical, emotional and spiritual health. However, the pill should not be the place of first resort and it can never replace the reality of sin and the need for a Savior.

The promise of a person. The experts give similar advise on handling stress: set realistic goals, treat your body right, set and re-set your priorities, take one task at a time, take breaks, be realistic, learn to relax and meditate, give yourself a break, be flexible, avoid excessive competition, go easy on criticsm, manage your anger, be honest with colleagues, share your feelings, talk it out with a loved one. These are all good practical pointers, however, there is no anchor to make any of them work. Without the person of Jesus Christ there simply is no peace. The bumper sticker has better advice: "No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace." "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30. That is a promise that is possessable.

The prescription for peace. True peace starts with realizing that you are not strong enough, smart enough, or talented enough to solve life's problems on your own. It begins with a recognition that something is missing. That there is an aching in your soul. That longing is to be reunited with the one who made you. In sin we have disobeyed God and have broken his commands and have been separated from him. Evicted from Eden we wander homeless in a world full of pain and problems. We need to return home. Jesus is waiting for us with open arms and he has prepared a room especially for you. All you need to do is acknowledge you cannot do things on your own, acknowledge that he created you, that he knows your innermost needs, that he was born a person, lived a perfect life, and died an unjust death on a cross for your sins so that he could take your pain and your problems upon himself and give rest for your souls. Will you pray for that peace today? "Jesus I cannot do this on my own. I'm tired of running and I need your help. I know you died for me and I want to live my life for you. Please save me."

Becoming a child of God is that easy. Living a life for God is not. God is not a magic potion. While he has promised peace and joy he has also told us how we can experience that in his word and it requires everything from you: You must die to yourself and live for God. Read the Bible starting with the gospel of John. Read about how simple men with many problems were transformed by the power of God's Holy Spirit and changed the world. They were able to face hunger, hardship, pain and death with joy and peace. You can too, but it requires continuing to read the Bible. Meditate on it and pray daily. Join a local church and get involved in a Bible study. We work with many churches and would be happy to recommend one near where you live. Finally focus on others and get involved in a service organization as a volunteer. We would love to have you volunteer with us. As you serve others you will focus less on yourself. If you want to know more call us 847-844-1100 or e-mail us at help@administerjustice.org. We want to pray for you and encourage you in your life of faith so that we can walk through the difficult storms of life together with you.

By: Bruce D. Strom
COMMENTS? For more information about Administer Justice visit our website at www.administerjustice.org.