There's a show on Disney Plus that I love called The Mysterious Benedict Society. The show takes place in a city called Stonetown Harbor where something called "The Emergency" is going on. The Emergency is causing unrest and anxiety in people all over town. There are headlines everywhere that say things are out of control. Luckily, there are four children who are capable of stopping The Emergency.
These children are sent out by a genius scientist named Mr. Benedict who believes they have what it takes to stop the person who caused The Emergency. These four children have an "unusually powerful love of the truth," and they're the only way The Emergency can end. As they work to solve the mystery, they have to hold on to the truth and stay loyal to the one who brought them together—Mr. Benedict.
As I've been watching the show, I realized that there's a lot we can learn from it. In our world today, there is so much unrest. Bad news clutters our social media feeds; it seems like everything is spiraling out of control. Just like the children in The Mysterious Benedict Society, we need to hold onto the truth. We might not be able to stop the challenges going on around us, but we can hold on to the One who can.
We need to hold on to Jesus, our only source of comfort and peace. He's the only one who can calm what we're going through. And, He's the only one who can calm the storm inside of us. There's a war going on in our hearts and our minds, and we need the peace that passes all understanding as the Bible talks about in Philippians 4:7. In an age of division, anxiety, and depression, we need to find peace.
I've felt this unrest inside of myself so many times. The news is always showing chaos, and my Instagram feed is always wanting me to compare myself to others. I need Jesus, and I need the peace that only He can bring. Today, I wanted to highlight some songs that capture this message of peace. A message that our world desperately needs right now.
We The Kingdom, "Peace"
Oftentimes, "Peace" by We The Kingdom pops into my head when I'm anxious. It's a soothing reminder with worship and scripture, two amazing ways to combat fear and anxiety. Worship and Scripture are two things I hang on to when panic attacks hit. I used to battle with anxiety a lot more than I do now.
The beginning of 2017 was difficult for me. Almost every night, I would have a panic attack. It felt debilitating, and I thought that anxiety was something I would always live with. I had no idea why these panic attacks came on, they just did. Nothing seemed to relieve the anxiety. I tried breathing exercises, essential oils—you name it, I probably tried it. I was sick of living in constant fear, and I needed freedom. I needed peace.
That was when a book called Goliath Must Fall by author Louie Giglio fell onto my lap. It changed everything for me. It was the first time that I realized that I wasn't alone in my anxiety. I learned that the book's author had also dealt with anxiety, and he was able to find freedom. He found that freedom through Jesus and worship.
I read the book from front to back (something that I hadn't done in a long time). I also watched some of his sermons. I opened up my Bible. That's when I found freedom from anxiety, and greater than that, I found Jesus.
Jesus didn't promise us an easy life, but He did tell us that He would give us the gift of peace, as stated in John 14:27. Times will come when we're anxious, and times will come when God feels far away, but peace will come. It may take time to see, but we can find peace in Jesus. We can look for peace in a lot of different places, but true and lasting peace is only found in Jesus. So, next time you're feeling anxiety crowd your mind, turn to Jesus. You might not find instant relief, but over time your heart will find rest in Him.
"When the whole wide world is crashing down, I fall to my knees/And breathe in Your peace."
Evan Craft, "Be My Shalom"
"Shalom" is a Hebrew word that means peace. The root of the word means "wholeness" or "completeness." A common Jewish saying is "Shabbat Shalom," which means sabbath peace. The sabbath day was, and still is, an important Jewish holiday that happens every week.
Every Saturday, the Jews dedicate the entire day to rest. Since Jesus rested on the seventh day of creation, they also join in that rest. But it's so much more than just a day of rest. It's a day where they embrace peace and the presence of God. It's a day to recharge, to connect with family, and to be content with all that God has given them. It's something that most of the world has lost sight of. In a world full of busyness and chaos, we forget to slow down and rest.
"Be My Shalom" by upcoming artist Evan Craft is a song that captures the beauty found in rest. When we're so busy, we often lose sight of God. This song is an invitation to accept the gift of shalom.
It's hard to accept the gift of rest and peace. There's so much noise that it's easy to tune out the voice of Jesus. But if we could carve out some time in our day for rest, I think we'd have a lot more peace. As hard as we try, we can't do everything. We don't find peace when we're racing against the clock. We find peace in those still, quiet moments with Jesus.
Sometimes I struggle with the practice of rest and sabbath, and I'm sure many of you can relate. I love being productive, and I don't like to stop. But, I've found that when I'm going non-stop, I feel disconnected. I feel disconnected from God, family—and even my friends. Rest is so important; it's a doorway to peace and a lasting relationship with Jesus.
"Your presence, God, the only place where I'm made whole/Your love, Jesus, there's nothing else that I want more/Spirit, please come/Come and calm the raging storm/And bring peace/Be my shalom."
Switchfoot, "I Won't Let You Go"
Everyone who knows me knows how much I love Switchfoot. I talk about the band's music a lot because their songs have meant so much to me. Their song "I Won't Let You Go" has been a huge source of peace for me lately. Whenever I feel anxiety coming on, I turn on this song.
Ever since I first heard it on the radio, I deeply resonated with it. The thought of Jesus speaking the words, "I won't let you go," over me has brought me an incredible amount of comfort. Yes, I don't deal with anxiety as badly as I did a few years ago. But there are still times when I'm anxious and I need this reminder.
It's so easy to lose sight of the fact that we're being held by Jesus. Sometimes I wish I could see Him face-to-face and know for sure that He's in control. That's why I love songs like these. Songs that reassure me that I truly am being held by Him, and He won't let me go.
No matter how dark the night gets, I can always count on Jesus. Even during those moments when I need His presence so badly, I know He's there. There are times when He feels so far away, but I'll always cling to what I know is true: He will never let me go. When my world feels like it's falling apart, He's there. When it feels like I won't make it through the night, He's there. When I can't make sense of what's going on around me, He's there.
Whatever you're facing today, Jesus is right there with you. The bottom line of everything I write is this: Jesus is what you need. I don't know your situation, but I know that Jesus is the answer. True peace is only found in Him. So today, turn the news off. Power off your phone. Take some time to rest in Jesus. He won't let you go.
"If you could only let your guard down/If you could learn to trust me somehow/Well I swear, that I won't let you go/If you could only let go your doubts/If you could just believe in me now/I swear, that I won't let you go."
Grace Chaves has been a fan of all things Christian music since 2016. She is NRT's news editor, and one of NRT's youngest writers. Homeschooled, Grace is an author, loves Jesus, concerts, and road trips.
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