yet in the middle of it all... there is PEACE....
Jesus when talking to His disciples about the time He would no longer be there with them said this:
..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.
Lately, first with the situation with my mother and now with all that conflict going on right in the middle of my immediate family, He has been surprising me with the extent of that Peace that He is giving me....
when flying over 3 weeks ago, getting on that plane not knowing what news we would receive when we landed... I felt at peace... when spending hour after hour holding my mother's hands, her being hooked up to all those machines... I was at peace... I was saddened, and I didn't want to lose her, I prayed constantly, but I had PEACE..... I was not like I used to be, frantic and out of my mind scared.......
it was not that I didn't care... I care... a lot... but He gave me His Peace...
yesterday when the hurt and anger that had been "simmering" just underneath the surface erupted, I was surprised that this did not trigger my 18 and a half year long pattern of reacting to this... trying to intervene and to control, overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.... no ...on the contrary... I had and have PEACE.... I am praying constantly... I am saddened to have to watch more hurt and pain being inflicted, I am so sorry I cannot control this, but I am trusting Him.... to work His will out , no matter what choices and decisions are being made by those involved...
It goes on in the Gospel of John, quoting Jesus saying: 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.
it's a shame that what Jesus said is so true... that in this world we will have trouble... having such a hard time with this because we were made in the image of God to live with Him in the Garden of Eden... in close fellowship.... we were not meant to face all the hardships and ultimately death that entered the world because of the "fall".... fact is, this is the world we live in and without Him giving us His Peace, we will be tossed back and forth and become more and more bitter and negative... building walls to protect us, never letting anyone in because of fear to be hurt..
with Him in us... we do not have to worry about that.... with the Peace He brings we can face anything coming our way... following Him obediently will allow us to deal with the conflict the best way possible...
will their be sadness? for sure... but... there will be PEACE... and joy... and blessings.... I know it because I am experiencing it right now... Praise be to God....
