“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Most of you probably don’t know my story – fully. Each day is recorded in John’s Miracles along with the raw reality of the moments. I wasn’t looking back when I wrote those words. I was living them.
I have lived a Christian life for a long time – about 21 years if you want to start at my baptism, but the Holy Spirit was present within me before then. The Christian life came pretty easy for me because I am a good girl. I like boundaries. They are easy for me to understand, and they are easy for me to follow. There is very little drama in my life, and I do not have an earth-shattering salvation story.
However, even with the security of boundaries to make me feel safe, I rarely felt peace – the kind of peace that Paul describes that is beyond any comprehension. Of course I had peaceful moments, but there was always something unsettling deep inside. Never deep satisfaction.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
That is until my husband was dying.
And the peace came.
It was odd to me that after years of living a life unsettled about the future – whether I would get married, who I would marry, if my desires of being a wife and mother would be fulfilled – now, when the future I had desperately prayed for might be taken from me, I felt peace.
It was beyond comprehension. It was beyond understanding. It was supernatural.
But I finally knew that peace was real.
How were those bleak days different when I was afraid to hope because hope might just disappoint me, but at the same time I was afraid not to hope because then I would be alone?
1. My mind was saturated with God. His love. His promises. His blessings. His will.
2. I trusted God with my future knowing he was already there, in it, planning it, and that He loved me and knew what was best for me.
3. I talked to Him continually just as I breathed. I heard Him talk back. His presence was in an arm’s reach at all times.
And God kept me in perfect peace, and that peace guarded my heart and mind from all the realities that could be. Peace was not a feeling. So I still cried. It was a state of being consumed with God and in God.
Today, we Fall in Love with Peace. God’s supernatural, can’t believe it’s real, it has to be God, peace. A peace that you cannot give yourself and that your circumstances can’t give you. I am here to tell you that it’s real, and it’s for you. So reach out your minds and bring them under God’s care. Allow Him to embrace you in peace.
This is the ninth day of a ten day series “Falling in Love“. Read the previous posts by clicking below.
Fall in Love with Your Life {and Plan a Party} :: Day 1
In this post I tell you how I threw a Valentine’s Day party for myself and all of my single girlfriends, and I show you how you can plan your own! (Plus there’s a link-up!)
Fall in Love with Your Family :: Day 2
Fall in Love with Your Friends :: Day 3
Fall in Love with Those in Need :: Day 4
Fall in Love with Creation :: Day 5
Fall in Love with Your Purpose :: Day 6
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