The truth is there is no self-help only God help. If we could truly help ourselves, we wouldn't need God. When God fills us with joy and peace all the junk we carry around in our life must be forced out. Picture yourself as a bottle and as God is filling you with His joy and peace, all the mess in your life is forced out by the filling process. All the bitterness that prohibits joy; all the feelings of anxiety which prohibit peace. The mere presence of God alone is enough:
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1John 4:18
God is perfect love and He will cast out your fear as He fills you with peace. Even Jesus differentiated between the peace of the world and His peace:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
When you receive the peace of God, your hearts will not be troubled and fear will flee. So how do we receive this filling process? Is it something we ask for, pray for, or wait for? The answer is in the key verse. We must trust in God. In fact it is stated as a causal relationship. As we trust in Him, so He will fill us with all joy and peace. It is our continued trust in God that causes Him to further fill us with His joy and peace. Sounds simple enough right? Sign me up!
Not so fast. It is not in our nature to be that trusting. The world taught us well to distrust. In fact, the world also reinforces the show-me mentality. There has to be proof, not faith. Because by definition:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
The world demands validation and scoffs at faith. It is easy to say we trust in God but harder when that trust is needed in our dire situations. When the medical report is unfavorable we need to trust in our healer God. When we lose our job we need to trust in our provider God. When we lose a loved one we need to trust in the giver of eternal life God. It is at those moments that our faith is tested. It is at those moments that we must deepen our trust in God. As we do He will continue to fill us with His joy and His peace. That is how this formula works. When you are facing unemployment you can trust the world that says the economy is in shambles or you can trust God who says:
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
