The gift of peace in a time of anxiety

A friend of mine is a dispensing pharmacist at a chemist’s shop in north Sheffield. When this Covid-19 crisis began, he said his shelves were quickly emptied of paracetamol and hand sanitizer. A month later, demand has shifted now to anti-depressant prescriptions and remedies. 

In the UK we’ve ‘done’ our 3 weeks of initial isolation. Our European neighbours who began lockdown a couple of weeks ahead of us, tells us that THIS is the week when people really begin to crack internally. The first adrenaline-fueled flurry of shopping, home-schooling, home-working has worn off. Now it’s just home everything. For some people a sense of routine is giving away to a sense of desperation: ‘when will this end?’ 

A rise in mental health challenges during this period shouldn’t be seen as any kind of failure. We’ve all experienced a level of shock and trauma because we had no preparation for this huge lifestyle shift. Underlying anxieties get stirred up.

My life experience is that there is a remedy to anxiety and underlying fears about life. I’m a Christian, and through my relationship with Christ I’ve discovered an inner peace beyond anything.

Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)   

Jesus understands humans deeply. He knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and has provided a remedy. “A gift—peace of mind and heart.” It comes as we explore relationship and connection with Jesus, who was called the “Prince of Peace.” 

This gift of peace is not a magic cure, not an empty promise of an easy, anxiety-free life. That sounds more like the promise on a packet of pills. But this is “a gift the world cannot give.” Real, deep peace of heart, soul and mind comes from surrendering to God. From receiving His gift of forgiveness in Jesus, of friendship, of purpose for life.

Today may you hear the bible’s promise: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”