A New Year

Find the Peace in the Storm

Hebrews 13: 8 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

God’s love is not selfish or selective. It is not based on conditions. We, as humans, are the ones who do those things. I pray for a heart like His, always. There are many examples of His love and His care throughout the New Testament, meant to teach us how to live our lives through His own life and parables. I was always told by the church that everything in the Bible is symbolic and hard to comprehend. Over the years I learned that was another lie the matrix told us. The fact is that the Bible is pretty straight forward and means what it says. We could say that Revelation is more symbolic, but the truth is it is explained by someone who has never seen the things we have here today in our world. John had to use the words and descriptions He understood at the time. If you pray and look at it through the lens of time, it is still full of meaning. After all, the lessons still reflect modern day as much as it did then.

Matthew 26: 36 -45

³⁶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

³⁸ Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

³⁹ And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

⁴⁰ And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

⁴¹ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

⁴² He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

⁴³ And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴ And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

⁴⁵ Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

When Jesus was about to be betrayed and crucified, He still prayed and asked His Father to take it away. “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” I believe that Jesus knew it had to come to pass. Yet he prayed this 3 times. Each time saying to let thy will be done. (NCSWIC) We get feeling so tired in the battle. We complain and whine about it all being to much for us to bear. We beg for rest because we feel we have no strength left and nothing to offer. But, when we truly surrender ourselves to God, HE gives us the strength…He gives us the words…He gives us the peace within the storm. When we can say to God…Let your will be done, and not that of my own. When we do things for God for His glory and not our own vanity… We then allow His Spirit to work in and through us to fulfill our missions and purpose. (We all have purpose) None of us wish to face the chaos ahead… Do you think that Jesus wanted to go through what He did upon the cross? Did Jesus not do the will of His Father to fulfill the commandments and thus become a blood sacrifice for our sins? Was this not the greatest act of love ever done?

We go through the motions. We make promises and barter with God. God if you do this thing I promise I will do…. That is not surrender. God is not a shop owner to be bartered with. He is not a genie in a bottle that can grant you 3 wishes whenever you feel you need them either. HE is God almighty! When you realize you have not truly surrendered your life to His purpose… and this is why, though you believe in Him, you are still riddled with worry, anxiety, fear and complaining… Once you truly utter the words, “I surrender all” …. and you give God the permission to work in and through you… for His glory and not your own… The peace that passeth all understanding begins to wash over you. When you do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13), the load or mission becomes a bit lighter. When you allow Him to guide your words, writing, podcasts and life… the burdens become less cumbersome. We make it difficult. Our own vanity and ego gets in the way.

Matthew 11: 29-30

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When I started doing podcasts I felt a bit frustrated and unhappy with what I was doing. I kept telling others I hadn’t found my niche (place). In my frustration, I realized the problem was I had not truly allowed God to fulfill His purpose within my life. I had never truly surrendered and was trying to do it on my own. I asked for forgiveness and surrendered. Since that day, every podcast I do is His. I pray for His words for His glory… I pray for the strength to deliver hope and love to His people. God knows my heart is for the people. His love and compassion is a huge part of my mission. I can sit and plan out a show… have it all outlined in the way I wish it to go. Then I pray before I hit live. Suddenly, everything I had outlined is irrelevant. I may only hit on a few things I have written down. It becomes what He wishes and not my own.

I am learning to leave it in His hands. Throughout the week I am reminded of things and I write them down. I make sure I understand the meaning through prayer and reading. In the end, the show becomes what He wishes and not what I wish. because I always pray right before and ask that it be His words and for His glory. I am not concerned with how many view or like my content. I have faith that it will reach the right people at the right time. I leave it all in God’s hands. This alleviates all the frustration and worry I was feeling prior to surrendering. I believe that God will bring the right audience and will deliver what He deems necessary in the moment. I am doing it with the right heart and with the right purpose. I never go back and listen to what I said. Confirmation comes from the audience. If I reach one person then I have done what I had hoped too.

I realize that I am different. Through all the trauma in my life, I have learned that God was always there. He always protected me. My faith is strong. My faith cannot be shaken. I believe in His promises. Therefore, I shall not fear what lies ahead of me. There are 365 passages in the Bible that say do not fear. (one for every day of the year) When we truly allow God to direct our paths, there is no reason to fear. Through the worst the storm has to offer let us be reminded of His words…

Matthew 8: 23-26

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

My prayer is for us all to find the deep love and the peace that Jesus Christ exhibited in His examples in the Bible. May we find the strength and perseverance needed to finish the battles before us. May we be mighty warriors in faith and deeds toward our fellow people. May we find the calm in the storms. Though the days may be draining, we shall march on in spite of it all confident in the victory. God wins! So, as we embark on this new year, with all its possible scenarios, may we be reminded of the love that Christ showed us. May we become closer with God and find the kind of peace through the storms that only He is able to give. There is always hope. We know He will be victorious… God wins!!

Happy New Year to all of you! Much love and many blessings always! God Bless.