Peace
I had a goal to read all 4 gospels in the month of September, which will most likely run in October because #Life. Have you noticed that Jesus brought peace in each encounter He had: when He healed or diffused an argument or met a challenge?
God wants to bring peace in our lives with Himself, our circumstances and relationships. For example in Mark 5:34: “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
There have been so many times in my life that the peace I needed was directly connected to healing that I allowed in my life. Life has a way of training us and creating patterns of thought and behavior. If we ever want to break that cycle, we need to radically shift how we deal with it.
This was taken in Maine and this old wooden bridge was scary to walk over. You could see through the floor and it creaked. The roads were dirt, but worn by hundreds of people traveling over it. I love this picture because even though it was scary and I didn’t really know where we were going, I knew other people had been there. They provided a way across the river and made a path through the woods.
Zechariah was declaring what God was getting ready to do through John (his son) and Jesus. (Luke 1:67-80)
“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78&79 (NLT)
Jesus has and continues to meet me in the darkness. Each time I needed Him. Every circumstance. Every thought. Every fear. Every time that other shoe dropped.
We can use an emergency 911 call to God that will get us through the immediate crisis moment. BUT we also need to do the hard long-term PT work of aligning our thoughts to what God says and standing against the enemy with the promises of God.
Peace doesn’t mean nothing goes wrong or we won’t have fear, doubt or even a fight. Peace from God means that even when those things happen, we know! We know the One who brings light to the darkness and makes a path for us.
The things we struggle with are real, valid and can’t be pushed under the rug. We need to deal with them with God, His Word and the Holy Spirit. They will lead us, teach us and change us.
In each gospel we read about the disciples and how they saw each miracle and confrontation; listened to every parable and needed it explained; ran around feeding thousands of people; walked miles and miles with Jesus and struggled through the storms. Jesus sees where they are at, all that was happening around them and that they haven’t eaten yet and says:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Jesus sees us! He sees the struggles. He sees the doubt and confusion. He sees the pressure and tiredness.
Jesus is calling each of us to run away with Him, even if for only a moment, to find rest and peace in all the crazy things that happens in life. Take Him up on it!!!! He loves you more than you know.
Have an amazing day!
All My Love ~
Jodi xoxo
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