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Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 NLT

I’m writing this blogpost because I’ve been a little MIA. It’ll be a short one, but there will be so much more to come.

It’s been a pretty difficult season, but one of the things that has been overwhelmingly evident is God’s peace. In the past, I have feared hardship. Not for the obvious reasons, but because I didn’t know how I would react to these truly unimaginable situations. The truth is, I have experienced what all of these commonly quoted verses are referring to.

Even though this story is still being written, I have so much peace in the fact that He’s in control. There’s only so much that man can do. If I put my trust in humans, I have very little hope. In Him, there is hope. I have hope because He has experience in the miracle business. I have hope because His ways are far beyond what I could imagine (Isaiah 55:8). I have hope because when I seek his presence, I find that his hand is all over my situation. (Jeremiah 29:13).

I can’t describe this peace that I have, but I do know that God said He would give it. He hasn’t broken a promise or failed yet.

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32:17

Remember the song “He’s got the whole world in His hands”? Sometimes it’s hard to fathom that the creator of the universe cares for the details of our life. If He can keep the Earth revolving around the sun, balance all the life on this planet, and engineer all the specifics of the humans body, then He can surely handle whatever situation that you are dealing with. Nothing is too difficult for Him.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Matthew 6:30

In Luke 12, it says that even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Whether the situation is big or small in your eyes, God finds it important and it’s safe in His hands.

What’s our role in all of this?

Give it to Him.

Trust and have faith that although His plans and His answers may be different from our own, He surely has it under control. He has it all planned out. Every detail. We can see how important details are to Him in the intricacies of the universe. The details of our lives and of His Kingdom are no different. They are very specific and bigger than our minds can comprehend.

The answer might not be what you were looking for, but it’s better. If you gave the situation to Him, it will be better because His ways are better.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

We’ve seen that when we try to put matters into our own hands, they don’t turn out for the best. In Genesis, God promised Abraham that he would have a child. Because it wasn’t happening in the timing he expected, the way he expected or understood, he decided to makes things happen the way he knew how. He had a child with a woman who wasn’t his wife. Although that child was still loved, God had an even bigger plan for Abraham and showed that His ways were better and His standards were different. He planned for a child between him and his wife Sarah even in her old age. Abraham is known the father of many nations.

He’s had this whole “big picture” thing on lock for a while now. He knows what He’s doing. He hasn’t failed yet and He’s not going to start. From the beginning of time there has been a purpose in every step taken. There’s no One better to take on your situation. Just give it to Him and let Him handle the rest.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7 ESV

I had the opportunity to attend a church near St. Louis this past weekend and they were studying these verses. Although I’ve read it so many time before, I have often read this verse for encouragement in the midst of anxieties, but these verses are instructing us to be reasonable in our actions and responses. Paul gave a direction to the church to let your reasonableness be known to everyone. Some translations say to let your gentleness be known to everyone. So, casting your anxiety on Christ is a command we are given in order to keep our cool and display an agreeable temperament. Can we be gentle toward others if anxiety is overtaking us?

Instead of living in anxiousness, God calls us to pray. He doesn’t just simply say to pray; He says to come to Him with prayer and supplication (or as some translations say “petition”) Supplication means to beg or ask earnestly and humbly. A petition is a formal request. We are told to recognize our placement in regards to a great God. We need to be aware of the fact that anxiety can’t be overcome on our own, but through the One who created us.

We need to come to Him humbly and place it in His hands. Come to Him as a person would approach a king to present a request or a judge to petition a case. In needs to be in full humility and dependence on Him.

THEN, the peace will come that surpasses all understanding. The peace does not come with any of our strength; it’s bigger than our minds can comprehend. Your situation may not have changed much or at all, but you have a peace that others will not understand.

When you have peace that others don’t understand, you’ll display the reasonableness and gentleness that others will want. This is part of our testimony as Christians. We are set apart; not just with the morality of our actions, just also with the attitude that we exhibit.

It seems like a simple enough concept… until you’re hit with the daily stressors in the supermarket, on the road, at your job. People are watching closely at how you handle yourself. If you just look and act like everyone else, how will others see Jesus in you. We are instructed to be reasonable.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The old is gone, the new is here… but for how long? Too often we have an experience with God that leaves us changed, but after a few weeks in the real world, with real responsibilities, real problems and real temptations, we start to go back into to our superficial Christian ways.

God can change your heart, but the relationship needs to be maintained. You need to choose to be changed. Once the decision is made, the work needs to take place. There needs to be a deliberate effort to get up early, pause Netflix, or tap the Bible app instead of Instagram.

You are a new creation when you come to know Christ, but in order for you to mature and to receive all that He has for you, you must choose to walk in a new routine and a new mindset.

When the struggles become real, because they will, we can’t attack those problems with the same old strategies. We need the wisdom from our Heavenly Father, and the trust in His plan to overcome the confusion.

A relationship with Christ isn’t about feelings. Being involved in a week long conference or Christian concert are amazing perks, but those aren’t the actual life changing moments. We aren’t altered by the “feel good” experiences. The chains break and the mountains move when you choose to trust God and worship Him despite your circumstances. When the bills come in, when your job is stressing you out, when your marriage is on the rocks, when you have so much going on that you can’t think straight, when the depression sets in, when the temptations rise… those are the moments of shift. You’re on the brink of a breakthrough when it makes the most sense to give up.

Living a life pleasing of the Father, relying on Him when you don’t understand, delighting in Him in the midst of your deepest heartache… that’s the real relationship.

It’s not a feeling… it’s a choice.

What is God asking you to do? What direction do you feel He is leading you toward? Does it seem impossible? Are you feeling anxiety about your ability to do what He is asking? 

I’m usually one of those people who give God an attitude when He wants me to make moves for His Kingdom. 

“I’m not the right person.”

“I don’t have the skill.”

“I don’t have the personality.” 

“I don’t have to courage.”

“I’m not really hearing Him.” 

In my whining and pouting, I was brought to the story of Moses in Exodus 3 and 4. God came to Moses in a burning bush and explained to him His plan to save the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt. He wanted to use Moses as his vessel. Many of us know the story: Moses was called to help bring the Israelites out of Egypt; he pleaded with Pharaoh many times; Pharaoh kept saying no; God brought plagues to show the Egyptians His power; Pharaoh eventually released the Egyptians, after his first born son was dead; the Israelites almost got out, but Pharaoh changed his mind; God used Moses’ staff to part the sea and allow the Israelites to reach freedom. 

The part that we don’t often talk about is that Moses doubted his ability to be used by God. God called to Moses, but Moses lacked the skill and confidence to carry out God’s plan. 

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 

Exodus‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God was calling Moses to be his spokesperson. Moses struggled with speaking. He wasn’t eloquent or good with his words. He didn’t think that he could be the powerful orator to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. The truth was, God didn’t need a professional, he needed someone with a willing heart. 

How often do we go to God with that attitude? Maybe He has put a ministry on your heart, or called you as a missionary. Maybe He wants you to lead worship, or even has called you to be a pastor, and you don’t feel like you have the skill to carry on His will. Maybe you’re a Moses.

What did God say in response to Moses’ insecurities? 

   The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Exodus‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭

He gave us our personalities, our skills, our talents, and if He has called you to do His work, He’s also going to teach you how to carry it out. Among His many roles, He is our helper and our teacher. You don’t need to fear, because He is always with you. 
Like I said, I’m one of those complainers. Recently, God told me to write a song. I often don’t feel confident in my writing, but God gave me the peace to know that it wasn’t my words, but His and He would tell me what to do. I just need to listen and trust. 

Unfortunately, Moses didn’t fully trust. God wanted to use Him, but his insecurities got in the way. God sent a helper to Moses (his brother Aaron) and God’s will was still carried out. 

His will WILL be done. He wants to use YOU. He promises to help you and teach you. Will you trust in Him or will you trust in your insecurities? 

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew‬ ‭21:22‬ ‭

A friend sent me this picture, which inspired this blogpost. “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?” This is quite the thought provoking statement. 

How often share our concerns with everyone, except the Father? We talk about the future, but don’t realize it’s all in His hands. We vent about our problems, but don’t give God the control to change our situation. 

If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you have communication with an omnipotent God who is willing and able to change all your situations, but we get stagnant in our walk and don’t pray about the important things. 

Putting our confidence in man is easy. We get instant reaction. We can get the response that we WANT regarding our circumstance. It seems more difficult to put our trust in Christ, because we fear not getting the outcome we desire. The part we need to understand is that God knows the desires of our heart, and He also knows the plans for our future. Despite our beliefs, His plans are far better and more fulfilled than the ones we have for ourselves. 

You know this, but do you believe it yet?

What if… instead of complaining, we called upon the name of the Lord?

What if… instead of being obsessed with our circumstances, we pointed our interests toward the one who can change it all?

What if… instead of denying His power, we gave Him all the control? 

What if… we prayed about it more than we talked about it?

Humans will never satisfy. Only God can do that. 

Many of us have learned the hard way that people disappoint. It’s easy to put our hopes and joy in humans, as they give us a tangible and immediate form of love. It seems too difficult or time consuming sometimes to cultivate a relationship with a God that can fill every empty spot and break every chain. 

So again and again, we rely on the people close to us to do that. We use others to satisfy our self worth, intimacy, and success. How many of you know a perfect person? 

Just like you and I have many faults, so will every human you come into contact with. 1 John 1:8 says:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

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God has a plan and a purpose for the relationships in your life. He created family and friendships and marriage. He longs for your relationships to be healthy and holy. He wants them to thrive, but He doesn’t want them to take the place of Him. They can’t take the place of Him. 

Your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, best friend, etc. can’t fill your life like Jesus can. You can try to gain satisfaction from this world, but you’ll never attain it. 

In John 4, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman. This passage tells that she had had five husbands and was currently with a man who was not her husband. This woman was searching for her contentment through means that did not satisfy. When this woman came to the well, she found truth. 

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

John‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭

You can keep searching for the missing piece through relationships, success, education, but the truth is you’ll never find it. You’ll never be truly fulfilled until you come and drink from the well that will satisfy. Know Jesus. Know Him personally. Spend time in His word, speak with Him and let Him fill you. 

Thank God for learning experiences. 
Some of our greatest faith comes from our greatest hurt. Some of our strengths come from our disappointments. There are some days, or weeks that we just blow it. Usually those are the moments we learn from the most. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Unfortunately, because we are human, mistakes are inevitable. We will say all the wrong things, we will sin, we will certainly fall short in so many ways. Some days, we will fall flat on our face and our walk with God will feel impossible. I’ve had one of those weeks where I feel like I keep saying and doing all the wrong things. One day this week, I literally fell smack on my face in front of our bible study group (it was pretty embarrassing, but also a perfect metaphor for the week). These moments will occur in our life, but 2 Corinthians tells us that Christ’s power is shown through our weaknesses (and we have many). 

In our greatest disappointment, in our most difficult hardship, in our most gripping sin, Christ is greater and can be shown victorious in our lives. There’s nothing like a severely hard time to wake us up to change things the second time around. 
Grace is there for a reason. Grace is not there so we can keep on sinning. 

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Romans‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Grace is there to prove that God is greater. Although it was a horrible time, God power is made known through your weakness. You are now better because of what you learned and you can now encourage others to not make the same mistakes. 

As soon as you ask for forgiveness, God forgets. You need to take the step to forgive yourself (which can be the hardest part) and now move into the destiny that God has planned for you. Don’t live in guilt, but delight in the fact that God has done a mighty work in you. 

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 

Psalm 130:5

I came across this verse last night, while reading a fantastic devotional. I love when my quiet time matches perfectly with what I am going through. I’ve been in a period of waiting for some time now. I am seeing mountains move and situations being put in order, but the waiting period can definitely be a confusing and frustrating one.

It can be filled with moments where everything seems out of place, and the events in your life feel contradictory to the plan. Interestingly enough, God ordains all the moments to point toward the plan he has for you. Jeremiah 29:11 shares that he knows the plan. We’ve heard the verse so many times before, but it’s still reassuring to hear that He KNOWS the plan. It’s already in His will.  It’s already being put in place. As much as we want to argue and think it’s not true, your hopeful plan is already in the works. It’s happening. God is moving. That is a fact declared in His word. 

So, once we accept that truth, where do we go?

What do we do in the wait? 

Serve. 

Thank. 

Worship. 

Press on. 

Tell others about the truth. 

While God is putting everything together for your good (Romans 8:28), we need to live our life fully knowing that truth and furthering the Kingdom of God. Here comes my favorite verse…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

We won’t necessarily understand what he’s doing, but in the anticipation, submit everything to Him, and He will put everything in order.  Don’t walk away because of the difficulty and miss what He has for you. Stay faithful. 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

 Acts 1:4 

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 

1 Corinthians 16:13

It’s coming! This time period is not wasted. It’s a learning experience. You are in training. God is putting in place the people that need to be in your life and He is guiding you through the experiences necessary to build your faith. He is also longing for you to dig deep into His word, so that you are equipt with the knowledge and wisdom necessary to do His work. Also, He’s calling you daily to be fisher’s of men (Matthew 4:18-22) and to tell the world about Him. How else will they find the treasure that you have in Christ? 

This song explains it perfectly:

While I’m Waiting- John Waller