What a crazy and chaotic world we live in! Noise coming from all directions. Voices full of disputations and contradictions clamoring to be heard, each proclaiming itself to be right and above reproach. How does one navigate and find peace in this maelstrom? 

I have found finding the creator of heaven and earth and seeking what it is that He would have me discover has brought me more joy and happiness during these times of turmoil than anything else. He does this by helping me unravel myself from the philosophies of the day. As I have stepped back from the endless news streams and video feeds which plague our daily existence, I have been able to see the order and intentionality of the world around us. Order that I can count on. The sun as it makes its trek across the sky. The life cycle as it is demonstrated by the seasons: spring, summer, autumn and then winter. 

Once I started looking for God’s hand in my life, it became easy to spot His fingerprints on His creations. Seeing these fingerprints inspired me to look more intently to see where they would lead me. As I searched for His fingerprints an image of God has developed in my mind. Who He is. What relationship He has with this world. What plans and hopes He has for us. His creations. As I reflect on these topics I find hope and joy taking the place of the doom, sadness and anxiety that the endless ‘streams’ of the day bring with them.

God is there and wants to commune with us. But we need to want to commune with Him as well. Some may say that it is a fool’s errand to seek out and believe in God. There are many of these arguments which are very logical and very appealing to our finite way of thinking, that may persuade us into moving away from and perhaps even denying our very creator. 

As these arguments try to take over my faith in God, I have found that if I do a quick assessment of where they are trying to lead me and how they affect me, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally, both in the short term as well as the long term, I can find good indicators of whether I am drawing closer to God or further away. God has given us directions on how to find Him. 

Sometimes I have thought that following some of these directions is counter intuitive, but as I have had the courage and faith to follow them I have found God’s grace, love and peace.

Sometimes it feels as though God has abandoned us, that He must have given up on us and has gone onto a better project. I know that is not the case. We may drive Him away at times but He is always willing to help, forgive, and strengthen us if we will let Him. 

I am grateful for God’s love for His children and His willingness to engage with us.

Russell Stagg is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a high councilor in the Craig Stake of the church.