PEACE BE STILL!

In some stolen moments today, I began to ponder and inquire upon the Lord regarding peace. What I consider revelation, or what some of you may consider “insight”, this is what was placed on my heart: The reason our peace escapes us is because we want to hold God to the constraints of our own desires within the limitations and boundaries of our own mortal mindsets. Isaiah warns us, however, when in Isaiah 48:17 he states, “This is what the Lord says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go’” It is not necessary, nor is it wise to profess our trust in God to alleviate our pains, fill our barns, rescue us from our calamities, and all the while ignore the existence of the very obstacles or trials that we seek deliverance from. It is, however, more effective to acknowledge those tribulations we are facing AS we proclaim our trust in God as our ever-present help! Unclear on what I mean? Let’s delve further to see if anything next sounds familiar… “God, my refrigerator is empty, BUT you are Jehovah Jireh and have provided for my needs according to riches in glory”….”Lord, he/she walked out and abandoned me, BUT you have not nor will you ever leave me or forsake me”….”Father, my heart is broken (or my body is in pain), BUT you are close to the brokenhearted and you save those who are crushed in spirit”….”My God, the job laid me off and I don’t know how I’m going to feed my children and pay these bills, BUT the cattle upon a thousand hills belong to you so you have and will continue to supply my every need”….” Oh, my Lord, I’ve reached a place in my life where I don’t know where to go and I don’t know what to do about what I am facing. I’m scared and I feel all alone. I don’t want to face failure again, but I know I certainly cannot stay in the place I’m at now, BUT you told me that if I lean not on my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge you that you would direct my path. You are my strong tower! You are my Wonderful Counselor!” Did any of those concerns sound familiar to you? Well, I decree that God has heard and He understands. Have peace in knowing that He who has created you knows all of your anxious thoughts. He’s intimately familiar with your secret longings and your innermost desires. Isaiah 40:28-29 states, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and his understanding no one can fathom”, therefore, cast all your cares upon Jesus Christ for he cares for you!