Tranquility from Heaven

Today I wish to talk about the reality of having joy and tranquility in the midst of pain and suffering. Of course, no one in their right mind would pray for an additional load of suffering in this life.

We would all rather float downstream on flowery beds of ease if given a choice of lifestyles.

We would all prefer to be at a 5 star spa resort having aromatherapy and massages than have to labor on a hot roof in the tropical sun. Of course, the easy way is not always the fruitful way that brings development.

There is a lot of truth to the saying "No pain no gain" or the more Biblical admonition of "No crowns without crosses" We live in a world and culture that idolizes the painless path of the "quick fix”, easy way out, shortcut to Nirvana.

This is one of the reasons that most modern cultures today are experiencing an epidemic of overprescibed narcotic painkillers. (Not to mention the old boatloads of the illicit drugs)

Many doctors think nothing (to be fair though, some are changing now) of dispensing powerful narcotic analgesics lest, God forbid, their patients might have to endure a few twinges of pain.

In the United States last year overdoses of prescribed narcotic painkillers, usually washed down with alcoholic beverages, which contraindicated and caused death, tallied up to approx 39,000.

Former Pres Clinton speaking about this issue, said that this was the first time that the death rate of prescribed narcotics, had exceeded the deaths of the national road toll. Another alarming statistic he mentioned was that these prescribed pills had caused more overdoses than all the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine combined.
This is a total outrage that these drugs—which are very similar to heroin when abused, are so widely and massively prescribed.

I am not just picking on America here either; many of the other western countries have equally horrific stats.

There is a mass of addiction to drugs and alcohol because people are afraid of pain or boredom and demand an instant feel good lifestyle. Of course there is an equal dependence on other sensual pleasures such as dangerous promiscuous sex and also dysfunctional, gluttonous eating habits etc. There are many other less spectacular examples of this syndrome also which I won’t list now.

When we yield our life to Christ we experience a tangible means of invisible Support, Peace, Pleasure, Fulfillment and Comfort. This comfort comes directly through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Also God says that at His Right Hand there are Pleasures forevermore (He is speaking of Eternal spiritual fulfillment –not sensual pleasures
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Collosians1:11 KJV

Being a believer doesn’t mean we don’t experience the pains of life anymore but now we have something that enables us to “Mount up on Wings of Eagles.” We find we have a supernatural ability and patience to endure and be steadfast and immoveable, even though we are encountering powerful and even adverse headwinds.

I read in an encyclopedia that the big eagles get their best rides in a storm; they set their wings and let the windstorm push them to even greater heights where they sing cries of joy and victory in the mist of the mayhem. One book said they have been clocked at altitudes of over 20,000 feet where they circled far above the same storms that were wreaking havoc on the chook sheds (chicken coops) below them.

The old chicken gets blown and flaps all over the coop in a storm and does not have the capacity of an eagle to set his wings and not even flap to reach mega altitude.
God gives each one of us the ability to become a spiritual eagle if we allow Him. We may feel like the biggest chickens and even flap and cluck all over and be nervous wrecks but the Good News God will show us how to have Peace and even Joy in the Hurricanes of Life if we Yield to Him and Cast our cares on Him---Let GO and Let God!

ISAIAH 40:29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.