“He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; he shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” Psalms 46:9-10 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/psa.46.10.NET
Men wage war. They steal from and kill one another. Men want to be in control of others. Men want the world to work in their described ways and do violence against those who oppose them. We see it from the random shooter on a college campus who is unhappy with his life and blames those around him for his unhappiness to world leaders like Putin who wage war against innocents like the people in Ukraine. Some blame the instruments of violence and demand they be taken away from people, but they are not the cause, only the means of violence. The cause of violence is the heart of men who seek to rule over others and demand from others their selfish way. All of this reflects the root evil in all of us. We all want to be God. We want the world to run our way, for our benefit, according to our pleasures. We are selfish and self-centered. Easily angered when life fails to bend to our wants and desires. But God. There is only one God. He is the true ruler overall. His patience in allowing men to pretend they are in control is His kindness in waiting for men to admit they are not God but need the One True God to live forever and restore their souls to what is good and right. Only in bowing the knee before Him, Who made us, sustains us, and can keep us for all eternity will we find peace within, regardless of our circumstances. Resting in our God, Who is Lord over all, allows us to cease striving, and to live at peace with God, ourselves, and others, leading us to joy and hope. Humility before God is the means to joy-filled life free from the anxiety and stress of this world, for we rest in Him and His goodness, then experience His presence among us as He works His will in us and through us. The love of God and the peace of God is abundant for those who cease striving and know that Jesus alone is God.
