Seeking Peace
Scriptures, Prayers, and Wisdom for the Troubled
I have been stressed. Like everyone, I’d been watching the news and the persistent drip-drip-drip of information coming in since February. First it was the virus with news reports coming out of China of people being bolted into their homes because they tested positive for COVID-19. Then, there was the spread of the virus to Europe, the Middle East, Korea and other countries. Then, there were frightening reports of how the virus got into the lungs and killed its victims. Then, the stock market went wonky and the economy tanked. Then all professional sports were cancelled. Then, high school sports were cancelled. Then, all the schools cancelled. Then, I had to figure out how to teach all my classes remotely from an online platform. Then all my twenty-something kids lost their jobs. Then, someone said that we could be in this situation for 18 months!
Somewhere along the way, the stress mounted to new heights. I began to feel cold inside. My fingers were tingling, and I tossed and turned all night. “What if we all get sick? How will we support all our kids at home? What if our parents die of this? The poor grandmothers in Italy…I don’t want them all to die!” Instead of meditating and praying, I was dwelling on these cumbersome thoughts all night.
Finally, it happened, and thankfully not too late, that I began to seek after God and His refuge: “This is too much, Lord. I need your help.” Breathing deeply, I started to pray and offer this all over.
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”
Praying the Jesus prayer, my rapidly beating heart began to calm. Remembering Proverbs 3:5, I began to acknowledge that God is in control, not me.
That was the beginning of my movement from anxiety and stress to calmness and peace. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still working through this, but the peace is winning inside me because I’m making decisions to not get overwhelmed by the negative information and the fear. God is working in me.
Time and again, when the troubled people of God call upon His name and ask Him to send peace and comfort, He is faithful. We see this with David, Stephen, Paul, the martyrs and the saints.
As we live through this together, I wanted to share with you those scriptures and meditations that are helping me as I seek after God’s will in this current predicament. There are multitudes of holy scriptures and passages from the Fathers, but this list has given me a start. Most of the scriptures, prayers, and passages are short enough to remember and meditate on throughout the day with work and kids around. Printing and posting these around the house is another way I’ve been able to keep these uplifting words on my heart. At morning prayers, we include the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick which grounds the heart on Christ and His purpose for our life.
I pray that you will encounter great peace and comfort as you call upon the Lord, asking Him for strength and purpose and wisdom during this time.
Bible Verses
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea.”
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.”
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
“And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.”
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”
Prayers
Prayer in Times of Need
Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, come to my help and deliver me from this difficulty that besets me. I believe, Lord, that all trials of life are under Your care and that all things work for the good of those who love You. Take away from me fear, anxiety, and distress. Help me to face and endure my difficulty with faith, courage, and wisdom. Grant that this trial may bring me closer to You, for You are my rock and refuge, my comfort and hope, my delight and joy. I trust in Your love and compassion. Blessed is Your name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer When Facing the Unknown
O Lord, You who steadied the hand of Peter as he began to sink on the stormy sea, if You are with me, no one is against me. Grant to me the shield of faith and the mighty armor of the Holy Spirit to protect me and guide me to do Your will. The future I put into Your hands, O Lord, and I follow You to a life in Christ. Amen.
Prayer in Times of Trouble
Oh God, You are my help in every situation, help me now in the trial I am facing. I thank You that I can trust you even when I don't understand what is going on. I thank You that You have a plan and purpose for my life that You know how long this trial will last and that I can live in confidence and not be afraid. Show me Your plan for this trial and how You want me to walk through it. Allow Your peace to rest upon my heart. Help me to give You glory and accept Your joy and grace throughout this time for You are holy righteous and good. You alone are my hiding place and strong foundation that will not fall Amen.
Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick
This is a beautiful prayer. It is told that St. Patrick said this prayer as a protection as he traveled across Ireland amongst those who wanted to kill him.
A favorite section of the prayer:
I arise today, Through God's strength to pilot me, God's eye to look before me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, From all who shall wish me ill, Afar Or a'near Alone and in a multitude, Against every cruel, Merciless power, That may oppose, My body and soul.
Here is a link to the entire prayer
Shorter Meditations
The Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
Psalm 69:2
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Advice from the Holy Fathers*
“You should be afraid not of cholera, but of serious sins, for the scythe of death mows a person down like grass even without cholera. Therefore, place all your hope in the Lord God, without Whose will even the birds do not die, much less a person.”
+ St. Anthony of Optina
“The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”
+ St. Anthony the Great
“Do not reckon as a truly wise man that one whose mind is subject to fear on account of temporal life.”
+ St. Isaac the Syrian
“The chief end of our life is to live in communion with God. To this end the Son of God became incarnate, in order to return us to this divine communion, which was lost by the fall into sin. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we enter into communion with the Father and thus attain our purpose.”
+ St. Theophan the Recluse
“You don’t become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love.”
+ St. Porphyrios
* Quotes sourced from this site
