Blessed Peace

Isn’t it amazing how something comes out of your mouth before you fully recognize what you’re even saying? Now, I’m not talking about those Freudian slips or faux pas moments – or even those blatant “oh my gosh how could I say that?” hand-over-mouth moments. No, I’m referring to those times when the Holy Spirit guides you to say something that is just what someone needed to hear … be it for comfort, for peace, for encouragement, for inspiration, or to even discourage someone from a wrong decision. I feel so incredibly blessed when He uses me for that purpose … yes, even when I did it as one of those aforementioned “oh my gosh” moments!

I was recently talking with friends and one of them mentioned, “Well, what if I take a break - maybe the right situation, the one I’ve been working so hard for, passes me by?” My immediate response was, “Well, if God knows you need that break, and you’ve surrendered to doing His will in the situation, He’ll make it that everything about that situation takes that needed break too. Or maybe the rest of the situation needs to be developed further to match where you are about it now.” Boy, what an ‘a-ha’ moment that was…for my friend AND for me.

When we’ve completely surrendered to God, He will make all the timetables work in tune for everyone and everything involved. Perhaps it’s personal relationships, business decisions, medical care decisions, or simply unresolved issues. Whatever we must face, if we have committed it to the Lord, it becomes a matter of surrender and trust. But who among us likes to surrender? In our mindset, isn’t that admitting defeat? “What, you want me to give up control?” we think. I know with me personally, being a single parent, the idea of giving up control goes completely contrary to how I have to live my life in making decisions that not only affect me, but my children as well. I’m the one in control. Or am I?

I, for one, can fully admit that the surrendering process is a long one – typically with very hard lessons learned along the way. C.S. Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way’.” But I always imagine Him finishing that statement with “And I’ll be right here to pick up the pieces and help you with it when you’re ready.” He’s not offended. He understands our nature…our need for control. But He also already knows how that decision to go our own way is going to end. And more than anything, He loves us. Therefore, He’ll wait for us to make the inevitable mistake we’re going to make, then come back to Him broken from choosing our own course. But the amazing part of it is that He will take the broken pieces and make something beautiful … rather like broken pieces of glass make a beautiful display in a kaleidoscope.

If we really surrender, then that involves laying ourselves bare and vulnerable before God. There’s the trust issue. Do we really trust God? Not lip service, but letting go everything concerning a situation (and life in general) and handing it over to Him. And that handing over to Him means no worrying. I read recently that worry is opposite of trusting God. If we worry about something we’ve surrendered, then really we’re still holding on to it. If we’ve surrendered it, we’re trusting God for the best outcome for everyone involved. End of story! Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He can’t work it for the good if we want to control it. It’s according to His purpose, not ours.

There is such peace once you’ve made the decision to surrender. Don’t get me wrong, there will be turmoil almost immediately – even if only in the form of temptation to try to regain control. Trust me … Satan will be sure of that. He wants control of you and if you’re truly surrendered to Christ, Satan loses another one. But, even amidst the turmoil, there is such deep down, unrelenting blessed peace. The kind where you can say “I just don’t really care. I’m really not worried about it anymore because I trust the Lord to make it work out best for everyone concerned.”

It is so vital to know God’s word. Yes, He can put any thought in your head to voice to someone else. But, it carries so much power when you can say, “Scripture says…” so they will know that this isn’t something you’re saying. Now, I’m not even going to sit here and say that I can quote exactly which verse says what. I can’t. I do have some memorized, but that is only because I pray them as a prayer every day, or because I’ve had to cling to them for solace and comfort. I told another friend recently, “I don’t think God expects us to spout off one verse or another to someone. I believe He expects us to tell others what Scripture says, without having to say exactly what verse it is. Because the remarkable thing then takes place, the seed of the Word you planted causes that person to do an Internet search to find what you just said, so they can look it up for themselves. Then they may dig deeper in His Word to find that which they seek, and He’s reaching them right where they need.”

I’ll share with you now those Scriptures that guide me, that I tell to anyone who will listen (…so listen!!). I pray every day, several times a day, Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” And my favorite, Jeremiah 6:16, “This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”, which goes perfectly with Isaiah 48:17-18, “This is what the Lord says…"I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."” And when I faced one of the greatest challenges in my life, I fasted and begged God to help me with the decision I had to make. I got nothing. And just as the gentle whisper breathes in Scripture to Elijah, the Holy Spirit shared with me, “If you have no peace about it, it’s not from me.” And I was immediately reminded of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.” (Yes, I had to do an Internet search to look up exactly which verse that was. [John 14:27 by the way]) The decision was clear…immediately clear. And I had such a peace come over me…mmm, warms me now just to remember it!

So, back to the beginning of this post. That moment when God recently put something on my heart to say that plopped out of my mouth without even thinking? Well, there were several blessings that occurred … 1) it’s just what she needed to hear for encouragement, 2) it reconfirmed for me the things that I face are indeed going to be just fine, and 3) it inspired me to write this post to reach each of you in whatever you’re struggling with right now. I don’t know what you need. But God does. And I count it a true blessing that He’s using me to touch you right now. There is beauty and peace, and rest in the light…the light of the world, Jesus (see John 8:12).

Isn’t He the most awesome God?