By Katie Beckmann, Communications Manager
This week's "Embracing Faith" article, will focus on Embracing Faith through Inner Peace.
The past few months have been quite disturbing for people of all faiths.
There have been multiple attacks at churches, synagogues, and mosques that have killed many people.
While the motives of those who committed these crimes have been questioned and sometimes not clear, the impact of these horrific attacks has left many fearful of attending religious services and practicing their faith in public settings.
With that fear plaguing many people of all faiths, it is hard not to wonder will we find inner peace at our places of worship again?
For some, inner peace has come easily, while for others, it hasn’t.
Here are four things that you can do to develop and find your inner peace:
· Focus on your relationship with God: Pastor Jeff Wells wrote, “Finally, we know that our peace ultimately comes from God and our relationship with God. We can know peace because we are in God and God is in us, no matter what happens. St. Augustine famously wrote, ‘God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.’ Friends, let us learn together to accept the peace God offers us and to allow our lives to rest on that strong foundation.” (1) These words are important to take with us wherever we go and can help us through troubling times.
· Care for yourself: Many people spend so much time dedicated to causes and the well-being of others that they get too tired to focus on their own needs, as well as of the needs of others.
· Accept what you can and cannot control: The Serenity Prayer states, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." This prayer is often said by those battling addiction and focusing recovery and can be used by people to focus on the fact that the world is a complicated place that we cannot control the outcomes, but God is always with us to help us through the good and bad times.
· Remain committed to your faith: No matter what happens in the world, it is crucial that we stay committed to practicing our faith and attending services in our places of worship. Staying engaged in our communities and committing to regular prayer will help us develop our spirituality, recharge our inner peace in times of needs, and stay focused on our faith.
What does inner peace mean to you and how do you find it in troubling times?