Advent with Pressed Olives: Day 13
PEACE
I have two scriptures I would like to share with you today. First, let me tell you that this was my word of 2024. I started the year changing one of my part-time jobs and knowing that I had a big exam coming up not long after. I wasn’t feeling peace about any of it. Since then, I passed my exam and have changed jobs again to one place full time. I am still in the adjustment phase of this change. It is good, but maybe not peaceful yet. Peace can elude us when change happens, or we think we need to fix, control, or manage all the things. I have learned to be good at managing other people’s challenges but not always mine.
The hardest part of all the change in the last couple of years hasn’t been the external changes of jobs and other things like house repairs etc., it has been the lack of peace in my home.
I love my spouse. He has taught me many things over the years. One of the things I am still learning is how to keep peace in my heart and mind while he is anxious and there is tension for him.
There are struggles with mental health in my family, both immediate and extended. This is hard for me to watch and feel powerless to fix. I have done all the things I can think to do to help. I have been frustrated, not so nice at times, quiet at other times and mostly weary. At the beginning of this year God spoke the word Peace to me for my year. I can’t say that I have mastered allowing His peace to reign in my mind and heart, but I have learned.
I can’t fix the things I mentioned above. I can love people through the struggle and learn to set boundaries that help me and them. I can let God do the work that needs to happen and trust that He is at work in the struggle. I can hold onto that hope. As I release the need to fix, control and manage, peace comes in. God has told me to have peace at times I must be still, to stop my striving.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
God never said that my eternal circumstances would be easy or bring me peace. He said he would give me peace in them and through them.
I encourage you today to sit with God. Let Him fill your mind and heart with peace, let it rest on you and in you today. Breath it in and let it fill your lungs.
“May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you, his peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 NLT
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