At Ease

Proverbs 1:33 says, "whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm".



The phrase "at ease" is the one that grabs my attention every time. What does it mean to live at ease? What would a life at ease look like? How would my life be different if it were at ease? What would yours look like?



Ease has a dictionary definition, just to review here it is:

freedom from concern, anxiety, solicitude, a quiet state of mind

I know many people who aren't at ease myself included. Why is it that some people live in safety, are at ease and have relatively little fear of harm. What's the difference between those people and the rest of us.





I know that safety, ease and harm are sometimes out of one's control. Life brings about situations and harm beyond our control. I'm not going to speak on those subjects.



Most days ease alludes me. I feel pressure, stress, and depression more often than I want to ever admit. I find myself worried and wondering about the "what ifs" of life. I am concerned, I am anxious, I don't have a quiet state of mind. Most days, I don't even know what solicitude means.



So what's the answer? Proverbs says the answer is listening to the wisdom of God.

Ok that sounds simple, but what does that even mean or look like? Surely I can't just put the Bible on my Ipod, listen to the wisdom of God and all my problems go away? Surely not.



I do think that living at ease starts with listening and understanding the ways of God. There is no other source for understanding the ways of God than the Bible. Here is the big jump that we often don't make. Living out the Bible. Or more directly, living out the wisdom of God found in the Bible. For many of us the question isn't how much we know about the Bible, its a question of how much of the Bible am I living out. I'm not saying truth or wisdom is only found in the Bible, of course not, but how often though do we turn somewhere else first?



Here's what I mean- when the everyday situations of life come up. Kids are acting up, spouse isn't doing what I want her to do, boss isn't giving you the recognition you deserve...you get the picture. Where do you and I turn for answers? More often than not I think we turn to "Christian" sources if we are a believer and to the latest self-help guide/guru if the Christian stuff doesn't work. How often are we turning to Scripture to address the every day issues of life?

There is nothing wrong with the latest parenting or marriage book at your local bookstore. There is nothing wrong with your friends' advice. There is nothing wrong with what Glen Beck or Dr. Phil say. But I want to challenge you to turn to Scripture and the Wisdom of God as your first response to your next crisis. Compare your "at ease" level to your last crisis.

Don't know where to start- try Proverbs.

What are some Scripture that have helped you in the past? Post them in a response!