Mid-Week Message - Finding Peace on a Hard Day

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (AMPC)

God said "no" today.  It has happened many times before, but today hit me rather hard.  This "no" followed what I had interpreted as a "yes" and because of that I was disillusioned.  My words to my husband were, "I can't trust anything anymore."  Now that a few hours have passed and I have had some time to think, I realize that I heard the "yes" because it was what I was wanting to hear and not anything that the Holy Spirit had conveyed to me. 

See, I took my attention off of the Lord.  I transferred my trust onto what I thought I heard in my heart rather than leaving it where it needed to be.  Only the Lord knows what tomorrow holds.  By His side is where I need to keep myself.  Had I done that, I would not have experienced the distress because I would have known that although this was not His provision, His perfect provision is coming.  

It is not His will that we be anxious about our lives.  He wants us to lean on Him and to trust Him for everything we need in life.  Today should have been a time of thanksgiving and acknowledgement and of seeking peace over the future.  Just as He provided manna for the children of Israel, so He will take care of our needs.  I love the verse for today, and specifically in the Classic Amplified version because it conveys a mighty picture of our hearts and minds being guarded.  We can all have that protection.  It is readily available.  All we have to do is ask God for that peace then we don't have to worry about what is yet to come.

I know I am not the only one that has found themselves in this predicament.  We all go through periods in which we wonder about tomorrow.  What will the medical report say?  How did the interview go?  When will that check come in?  And we find ourselves asking if God truly knows what we are going through.  Does He know how worried we are?  Does He care?  

As I have had to assure myself today, I will now assure you.  Indeed He does care.  He loves us more than we will ever be able to understand.  That is why He reminds us not to fret or worry.  All good things come from the Father above.  Everything belongs to Him.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in He is mighty and loving enough to guide us through.  He has answers that we cannot even dream of and at the correct time, His time, He will reveal them.  Until then, He asks that we rest and allow Him to be in charge.  

I pray that each of us is able to find that peace that transcends all understanding as we go through this week.  With great love and thanksgiving, God bless you.