Finding Peace and Joy for Your Soul

Why do we have this deep-seated craving that never gets satisfied by the things of this earth? Why do we feel this sensation of helplessness deep within our souls? Why do we try to chase after things that would make us happy by the world’s standards, but end up making us completely miserable? In all of these things, why are we not finding peace?

Why do we become numb to self-destructive things? Sex, power, money, relationships, substances, prestige, and food leave us empty and hollow. Referring to this emptiness, the prophet Jeremiah recorded this type of behavior over 2500 years ago: “They…dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13, NIV).

The God-Shaped Void in Our Hearts

None of these things add to our eternal treasure in heaven. However, we still chase after such things, hoping to escape the bottomless pit of void and darkness. As the great philosopher and mathematician Pascal once wrote, only God can fill this God-shaped void in our hearts (Cashwell, Johnson, & Carnes, 2021).

In the beginning, God created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27). He intended to be the key that would unlock all creation to us. However, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Since that time, God has given man the option to choose the key that he has supplied or choose the key that Satan provides (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13).

One leads to eternal life with Him. One leads to eternal suffering. Satan’s key is like fitting a square peg into a round hole. God’s key fits perfectly like a glove to a hand.

When people search for things to fill this God-shaped void in our hearts, they often enter “clothes dryer” traps. When we become trapped, we tumble around constantly at high speed, leaving deep bruises and getting burned by the intense heat. When battered and burnt, we eventually give up hope.

As a result, we direct our heads toward the ground. Our eyes seem sad to others as we wander through life. The pain in our inner beings causes us immense suffering. Fears overwhelm us as we isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Laughter is our mask for our silent screams of desperation.

Hearing God’s Voice

It would seem that no one is listening, as we are flooded with emotions. We quickly forget that God sometimes speaks in a gentle, low whisper (I Kings 19:13) as he tenderly calls out to us. At other times, He speaks at a higher volume like waves crashing (Psalm 42:7).

Individuals who recognize God know that their souls “thirst” for Him (Psalm 42:7, NIV), because God sent someone to open the dryer door when they became trapped. When painful memories come up.

We know that we can pour out our souls to Him (Psalm 42:4, ESV), because God sent His Only Son to pour out his blood for us. We know that we can “place [our] hope” in Him (Psalm 42:6, NLT), because God gave us a high priest to whom we can affix our souls (Hebrews 6:19).

If you are weighed down by regret and deep shame, you may think that you are on a hamster wheel where you are constantly running and going nowhere. Perhaps, you are struggling to put all the pieces of your life together. You meander the earth like a zombie without direction.

The Vanity of This Life

If you do not have all the answers in life, welcome to the human race. Most of us have learned the hard way that joy is not found in virtually sex with a porn star, at the bottom of a wine bottle, having the power of a politician, seeking riches like Bill Gates, reading self-help books to find the perfect relationship, having the prestige of a Beverly Hills socialite, or eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying your spouse sexually, developing wealth, working on your relationship, drinking alcohol in moderation, earning promotions, or having a delicious meal. However, when you center your life around these things, it will lead to disaster. If you currently center your life around such things, know that it is possible to change.

God’s Plan for Finding Peace: Come to Him

God has a plan for our lives, and while we may not know what His specific plans are for us, we know what they are in a broad sense: pleasing Him (I Thessalonians 2:4), loving one another (John 13:34-35), acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly (Micah 6:8). These plans contain a “hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Additionally, God wants us to center our lives around Him and His Son. In the Garden of Eden, man walked with God before sin was introduced. In Numbers 1, God called for Moses and Aaron to take a census. In chapter 2, he told Moses to arrange the tribes as they camped around the tabernacle. The shape formed by the Israelites was the shape of a cross.

In the four Gospels, we can see that people came and frequently gathered around Jesus (Matthew 5:1, 13:2; Mark 4:1, 5:21; Luke 5:18, 8:41; John 3:2, 8:2). Six hours one Friday, he hung on a cross for our transgressions. From heaven, the apostle John recorded Jesus in the center of the throne, victorious over death, suffering, and the things of this world (Revelation 7:17).

Perhaps, you believe that you are completely and permanently flawed and unworthy of His grace. In other words, you believe that you are beyond God’s grace and mercy to be forgiven. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Forgiveness for Sinners

Through His Son, God is willing to forgive our sins and remember them no more (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 10:17). Perhaps, you believe that God can remove your flaws, but he is limited in His power to forgive. David writes:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:8-12, NIV

If you are lost and you call out to Him, he will answer (Jeremiah 29:12). Not only will he answer, but he will also look for you and will set you free (Jeremiah 29:14; Luke 15:4; Luke 4:18). If you allow Him, He will return you from your self-imposed exile (Jeremiah 29:14). God always wants you to return to Him, no matter what you have done or where you have been (Luke 15:11-32).

If you think that God only takes perfect people, re-read your Bible. Noah got drunk and was lying naked in his tent (Genesis 9:21). Abraham told lies about Sarah not being his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). Isaac and Rebakah favored one child over the other (Genesis 25:28). Jacob stole his brother’s blessing and birthright (Genesis 25:31, 27:11-41).

Moses did not give credit to God for bringing forth water (Numbers 20:12). David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, then ordered the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12). Solomon built the temple of the Lord, but he was also led astray by his foreign wives (I Kings 9, 11).

The apostle Peter denied knowing Jesus three times while Jesus was being tried (Luke 22:54-62). Paul, before becoming a Christian himself, actively persecuted Christians (Acts 7:58-8:1, 9:1-31).

Everyone has a story filled with victories and shortcomings. “Amazing Grace” becomes the theme song of our lives. Through Christ, we have received the redemption of His grace (Romans 3:24). Through Christ, we can boast of His righteousness, holiness, and redemptive nature (I Corinthians 1:30-31). Through Christ’s blood, we have the redemption and forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).

Although God hates sin, there is nothing that can “separate from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV). He turned his back on His Own Son, despising our sins at the cross. The apostle Paul wrote, “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, NIV).

Next Steps for Finding Peace

At Spokane Christian Counseling, we may not have all the answers, but we would be glad to help you find the answers to the questions above. Please contact us, and one of our counselors would be delighted to help you find peace for your soul.