Hanging on…

I took this picture back on February 29th, 2020 to share with y’all. Here in Austin, Texas we had spring buds and leaves coming out on the trees. But we also had the leaves of fall trying to hang on the tree as well. I love how God reveals our humanness to me in nature. Even though God is pushing or pulling me into a new season…I just want to hang onto the old, dried up leaves of the past. Those dried up leaves also remind me of how much I lived and learned in the past few years. And sometimes the past can be relevant to what we are going through today. Lessons of the past that can get us through the future. And one of the biggest lessons I learned from God was about His peace.

I now see that God’s peace is totally what has gotten me through these difficult…tragic times. And the scripture that has meant the most is one that many of you are familiar with because its really the go-to scripture for Gods peace. For me it struck a new heart string when I read it…and “felt” it …in a sympathy card that was sent to us by one of my best friends.

Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord Always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will GUARD your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or reheard from me…put it into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you.

I don’t know why but in my earlier concept of this scripture… “Gods Peace” was like clouds floating in the sky…and I was floating among them. For the first time ever I saw the word GUARD. This word means that God is actually protecting our hearts and minds…and its through His peace. My Bible commentary spells guard out…”A military concept depicting a sentry standing guard. God’s “protective custody” of those who are in Christ Jesus extends to the core of their beings and to their deepest intentions.” When our son died….I knew deep down I needed this kind of peace. I needed God protecting my thoughts as well as my body. Our thoughts can take us to places that God does not intend. When we put our thoughts to God He will transform them away from worldly thoughts to heavenly thoughts. For example, when I would wake up at night and start doing the woulda coulda shoulda’s. Yikes! I had no idea that is what happened to people when tragedy struck. So this was shocking as well as exhausting. I would then pray and ask God to GUARD my heart and mind and thankfully the Lord started putting Christian songs in my head that would play over and over again until I dose off to sleep again. And He still does this for me as I need Him to.

Now we have Coronavirus or Covid-19 to rattle our peace…and what and who do we turn to during this time? It so reminds me of my early days of grief…all the not knowing and uncertainty of what the future would look like. I am so grateful for all the scripture I knew before our son passed. Because when it happened I needed all the weapons God could give me for the battle. This scripture says it all…

John 14: 25-27 (This is when Jesus is promising the disciples the Holy Spirit) All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and WILL REMIND YOU OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID TO YOU. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble But take heart! I have overcome the world!

And then in John 20:19 (The first time Jesus saw His disciples after His resurrection) Jesus appears to the disciples through locked doors and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

What is peace? Lots of times when I need clarity I need to look at what it isn’t….Peace is not….worry, war, discord, distress, restless, boredom, stubbornness…..tired… Peace is a part of our true selves that we want to be aware of and grow in us. It is the Hebrew word Shalom that literally means peace. It is “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” It can be external or internal. The peace we are talking about here is….”A total well being and inner rest of Spirit, in fellowship with God. All true peace is His gift.”

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

As we go through changes and sadness with the coronavirus I would encourage each of us to cry out and release it to God. There are many things we can do in our present day situation but there are many things we can not do anything about. BUT we have the choice and freedom to give “ALL” things over to God.

Today in my Jesus is Calling devotional book Sarah Young writes, “Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble. At such time you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me. Understanding will fail you, but trust will keep you close to Me.”

I would encourage you to tune out the other voices so you can tune into God’s voice. He will walk us through the valley of the shadow of death and we know from the last verse…And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. (Psalm 23) He’s got our back.