Walking Through Troubled Waters: Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos

By Lawrence S. Perry

This past year has been troubling for many of us who have had to deal with the ravages of the COVD-19 pandemic. We have had to deal with a loss of freedom, and some of us have lost jobs and income. And most tragically, there was the loss of family and friends who were fatal victims of this virus. The result of which is that we have been forced to make many difficult transitions in our lives. Life, as we have known it, has changed. But did you know that there is great power in transitions? These transitions are here to announce that we must set aside some old ways of thinking and doing and set our eyes on a new reality. So where do we capture this new vision? Where is life taking us? How do we read the road signs?

In this book, Walking through Troubled Waters, we will explore the process of finding peace in the midst of our chaotic world. We will do so by probing the life of an ancient biblical character--King David. What does such an ancient figure have to teach us about living through troubled times? His story may well reflect our own experience. David's story is a drama of his life-changing transitions, which he had to overcome; and through these changes, he has much to teach us. Each time he found himself facing a new transition, this great king revealed a heart for God. And with this strong belief system, he was guided through some troubling times. Through faith, he transformed some simple words into a prayer to the Almighty. His faith in God was, therefore, the foundation to overcoming many of the challenges he had to face as a king and as a man. What can faith do? It can turn a boy into a warrior. And with a warrior's spirit, he had the strength to defeat those challenges before him. With faith, he learned to hear God's voice as he was guided through those troubled waters. Through faith, God taught him patience; and with patience, David learned that everything happened in God's perfect time. David had to face many of his enemies who tried to destroy him. He had to face his own sin and the rebellion in his family; and each time he triumphed. His final challenge was facing his own death. Did he find peace? I will let you be the judge. More importantly, can you, like King David, find peace in these troubling times?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639036417

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Walking Through Troubled Waters

Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos

Lawrence S. Perry

ISBN 978-1-63903-640-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-641-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Lawrence S. Perry

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Introduction

When we get out of bed and start our day, in all probability, we take our first steps without much thought. Unless we are hampered by some physical impediment, walking requires little conscious effort other than knowing the direction we need to go and the speed in which to get there. As described in the dictionary, walking is defined as the act of advancing or traveling on foot, placing one foot in front of the other as a means of locomotion. Consequently, we attach little meaning to the word walk. In the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek, the definition of walking is more pregnant with thought.

In many verses of the Scriptures, walking is translated as the mere act of moving from one location to another. Yet when we look deeper into the meaning of this simple word, we encounter a revelation. When a biblical writer uses the word walk, he or she is unlocking a rich, theological concept, which makes the passage or phrase more significant.

In my first book, Walking through the Weeds: Exploring the Source of Blessings and Curses, I wrote about walking through the difficult transitions of our lives, especially when we think we have been cursed. The act of walking though these difficult times is not just a movement through time and space. From a biblical perspective, the act of walking is a spiritual journey. The steps we take or the route we choose will determine if we are blessed or cursed.

When various authors in Scripture used the word walk, they were often speaking figuratively and were describing a journey as being guided by God. The word walk in the Bible is sometimes translated from the Greek word hodos. Hodos has many meanings and can refer to a road, a way of life, to guide, or the act of being led. In the ancient Greek culture, hodos often referred to two ways a person could walk. The person could choose to walk down a path of virtue, or they could walk down a path that led to destruction. If they chose the path of virtue, their journey would allow them to ascend into the heavenly realms where they would discover truth. This truth would allow them to enter into the presence of the divine. When the ancient Jews, and later the Christians, embraced this thought, the meaning of this divine journey took on greater clarity. In the Hebrew culture, it is God who directs His people as they walk. For instance, when the enslaved Hebrews escaped from Egypt and walked into the wilderness, it was God who was leading them into the promised land and to redemption. For example, in the Book of Exodus, we learn that God led his people through the desert by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Ex 13:21). When they were thirsty, He led them to the waters of Marah (Ex 15:22). When they were hungry, He directed them to the manna and quail in the desert (Ex 16). Yes, they had to physically walk, one foot before the other, but God was guiding their journey.

In Christian thought, this journey of walking in the wilderness takes on even greater meaning and clarity with the teachings of Jesus. In John 14:1–6, Jesus reveals himself as the only way to the Father when He says, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In essence, Jesus points the way. More importantly, He does not only point us in the right direction, He is literally the way. His words and His life are manifestations of truth; and through this truth we see the meaning of true life. He therefore invites us to take His hand and walk with Him. When we finally accept this invitation, we walk out of the weeds and find our redemption.

If we accept the premise that walking is a spiritual journey, where can this journey lead? How does this reality affect our personal lives? What do we need to acknowledge about ourselves or the life we are living? We are in the midst of writing our own story.

These stories can have a profound effect on our lives. They can lead us to joy, knowledge, revelation, spiritual growth, and ultimately, to God’s grace and redemption. Stories can also show us destructive behavior. In this book, we will explore the story of King David. His narrative reveals a man who went through many transitions in his life. These transitions were powerful moments. Some were joyful and triumphant, and others were destructive as he had to walk through troubled waters. The remarkable thing about David’s story is that it is our story! David chronicles what it means to be human and our search for peace in our lives.

So come, take a walk with me, and see what you will discover about yourself.

Chapter 1

The Power of Transitions

Ever since I was a teenager, one of the things I loved about growing up in California was the ability to go from the ocean to the mountains in just a matter of hours. There was something magical about being on a beach, witnessing the power of the Pacific Ocean, and seeing a transition point as ocean waves kissed the shoreline. As each wave crashed onto shore, you could hear a thunderous crash, and a whooshing sound filled the air as the waves reached the shore. This cycle repeated itself over and over again. Listening to those waves was as if Mother Nature was singing a song, announcing that something new was taking place. Many people in California would camp on or near the beaches just to be serenaded by this peaceful song of nature. One world was in transition from another, and the apex of this wonderful event was the shoreline. At the time, I did not realize the profound lesson, which nature was trying to teach me.

When our family would drive up to the Sierra Nevada mountain range, once again, this magical transition would unfold before my very eyes. To get to the mountains, one would have to drive through the San Joaquin Valley. The valley was a vast, rich breadbasket of California and as flat as a pancake. As you would continue to drive east, however, you would begin to see a change in the scenery. You would enter the hill country with its golden-brown grasslands, and strung throughout the rolling hills were pockets of magnificent oak trees. In addition to this majestic setting, you would often see sparkling lakes that cried out, Come play in me! The rolling hills were there to announce that you were in a transition, and the best was yet to come.

Then from the ocean shore, the fertile valleys, and the stunning Sierra Nevada, you could drive south; and the next thing you knew, you were once again in transition. There was no water, no rich valleys, no lush rolling hills or spectacular mount peaks. As you drove, the land was telling you that you were about to enter yet a different world. There before you, as far as the eye could see, was the stark Mojave Desert! Although being hot and desolate, the desert was still God’s country with its own unique mystique and beauty. As you gazed over the landscape, the thought immediately invaded you, What on earth could possibly live here? But your thoughts would deceive you. For if you looked hard enough, you would discover a plant-and-animal world that had adapted to this harsh land and was teeming with life. The desert had many lessons to teach us, but you had to have eyes to see.

As I grew up, I did not have the wisdom to appreciate these wonderful transitions, which I was privileged to witness, nor the ability to learn what nature was trying to impart. Like the land, there was another transition that was taking place. I was moving from a teenager into a young adult. This transformation was taking place, not only physically, but there was a spiritual dimension to this awakening in my soul. I began to raise the question: Why? Why was I thinking, acting, and feeling the way that I was? In my formative years, life did not have to make sense. Like most kids, life was to be lived. We often did not think about consequences. Consequently, there