Embracing His Peace When Your Heart is Anxious
I drifted off to sleep watching a movie tonight.
For the first time in weeks, my body and mind relaxed.
On this rainy night, the four of us played cards and then nestled together on our sectional to watch Revenge of the Sith (my younger son claims this is the best in the Star Wars saga).
No distractions.
Just simply present.
One son on my right, the other on the left.
The feeling of contentment that washed over me was hard to describe.
In my heart, I know that these days are coming to an end.
Any captured moments together make me feel like I have won the lottery.
In the not so distant future, our home will be empty for the first time.
Both boys will be off to college.
And as I lay here in the stillness of the night, comforted by the fact that we are all under the same roof right now, my thought was this:
I desperately want to have this same peace when they are no longer in the house.
Certainly I felt anxious when they started Kindergarten, had their first sleepover and drove for the first time.
But this just feels different.
How can we embrace His peace when our heart feels anxious?
First, spend time in His presence.
If I am being truthful, I have not been as intentional about taking time to spend with my Heavenly Father these past few weeks.
I need to stay as present with Him as I was tonight curled up on the couch watching tv with the boys.
He will be seeing even more of me when my son moves 1,135 away from home in August.
I do not know about you, but my measure of peace is much greater on the days that I make my time with God a priority.
Second, remember God’s promises to His children.
He fully knows us.
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139 1-4 ESV
He values us.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two [c]copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows.” Luke 12: 6-7 AMP
There is no place we can go that He is not present.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139: 7-10 ESV
He has a plan for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Finally, spend time in His Word.
Read this passage from Psalms:
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.
“Ascribe to the Lord, O [b]sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness].
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion (Mount Hermon) like a young, wild ox.
The voice of the Lord rakes flames of fire (lightning).
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord [c]makes the doe labor and give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple all are saying, “Glory!”
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace. “ Psalms 29: 1-11 AMP
This book in Psalms took a hold of my heart.
Our Heavenly Father has the power to break the cedars and shake the deserts.
He gives us strength and peace
Friends, I don’t know what is making your heart anxious tonight.
But I know the One who sits as King forever and who will remain by your side in the storms of life.
Grab a blanket and curl up in His presence.
May He bless you with His peace when your heart feels anxious.
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Feels Like Home
Over the holiday break from college, my oldest son frequently had friends over to the house.
Talking about everything under the sun, it was evident that they were just happy to be in each other’s presence.
Entering at all times of the day and night, they had full access to the house.
My husband jokingly asked me, “how many people have the code to our garage?”
But there was something about seeing the ease at which they would come and go.
During one of our late night conversations, one of the boys said this to me:
You make it feel like this our home.
I get choked up even now as I write this.
John and I have always wanted our home to feel welcoming.
But to actually have it feel like home to others touches my heart.
And makes me think of our heavenly Father.
I talk with Him about everything under the sun and am happy just to be in His presence.
He is available to me all times of the day or night.
He grants me full access to Him.
No code required.
I come and go with ease, because He is always welcoming.
He makes it feel like home because it is our home.
“Lord, through all the generations
you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.” Psalm 90: 1-2 NLT
Sometimes it is difficult to grasp that the Creator of the heavens and the earth will pause just to listen to my heart.
But He does.
Every single time.
There is no place that feels more like home to me than when I spend time with Him.
Friends, I do not know what you are going through today
But know this.
The Creator of the world wants you to feel at home in Him.
You can talk with Him about anything under the sun.
He will be happy to have you in His presence.
You are always welcome, day or night.
And you don’t even need the code.
My prayer is that you allow Him into your heart today.
Trust me.
It feels like home.
“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the
power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high,
and how deep His love is.” Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT
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