When I take a look at the world around me I just have to wonder what happened. There is hatred and violence where ever we turn. It doesn’t matter who you are, what race, religion or political affiliation, someone out there hates you. Who is to blame? There is no one person or even group that is responsible, it is the world we live in. We are surrounded by materialism, immorality, secularism, apathy, selfishness, and greed. There is so much noise surrounding us we can no longer shut it out. And I believe that’s the problem.

There are groups for free speech, anti-discrimination, white supremacy, black lives matter, every cause and every reason. These groups all collide and each one claims their philosophy is right and all others are wrong and violence ensues.

Where does all of this come from? It certainly isn’t what we learned from Jesus. But it is exactly what Satan would like us to do. Is there an answer? Yes.

Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. – 1 Kings 19: 11- 13

Elijah ignored all the noise and chaos around him, the wind, the earthquake, the fire, and when he heard the light silent sound he knew the Lord was going to speak to him. This is what we also need to do. We need to ignore the chaos around us and listen for the Lord, then listen to what he tells us.

When we hear him we then need to do what Jesus said to Peter when Peter walked on the water heading to Jesus.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;* do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. j But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14: 14 – 23

We need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and we won’t sink. We can’t let ourselves be distracted by the turmoil around us. We need to stay our course and just maybe others will follow.