“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
I am afraid I don’t have much in the way of encouragement today. I can’t give you the peace I don’t have. I seem to have lost it. Maybe I left it in Arizona. Or the beach. My soul feels like someone scoured it out with a scruffy pad. My joy has been elusive and I have not posted nearly as much because I have followed the old “if you can’t say anything nice don’t say it at all” adage.
I can however, give you Jesus peace. Jesus peace transcends feelings and that is what I offer you today. There are hard times in life when you have to lean on what you know, not on what you feel. Too many times I have looked at peace like an equation. “If I do thus and so and pray enough, read my Bible enough, make the right decisions, then I will have peace.”
“Then my anxiety will go away.”
“Then I will have joy”
“Then my fears will melt away”
“Then everything will fall into place”
I think maybe Jesus is trying to get me to let go and simply take Him at His word. To stop trying so hard. I feel like I have been spiritually wrestling with God and I am very tired. Tired of wondering if I made the right decision to move. Tired of wondering where my peace went. My peace is found in Jesus and nothing else. Like my old Pastor used to say, “It’s Jesus plus nothing”
So I give you Jesus today. At these words only, tears which have also been elusive come forth like Lazarus from the tomb. Lent is coming and it is with renewed joy that I write these words. I am relieved. Sometimes I just need to write myself out of the box I’ve stuffed myself in.
Maybe you are on the same kind of journey I am. Or maybe your life is going just the way you want it to. Maybe you, like me are tired of the second guessing about everything and you just want to let go and enjoy the peace of right here and right now.
Today, you can. Whatever decision you have made in life you can believe God led you there. I know that all steps have led me here, because I am here. Maybe it’s just as simple as that.
We’ll rest together you and I. And Jesus.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
Lori's Prayer Closet 
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Thank you for your beautiful words of transparency and hope. I have been there too. I want always to remember that God’s love for me is not dependent on my feelings.
My reason for writing is personal. If you recognize my name as an old friend of your father, please contact me. i would like to restore to you something he once gave me .
Lori – Thank you for sharing your beautiful, transparent thoughts. When I am in yhat place, I want always to remember God’s love for me is not dependent on my feelings.
On a personal note, please contact me if you recognize my name as wn old friend of your father.
Hi Ruth! And thank you so very much for reading and commenting on my blog. Your words touched me and I am so glad my words blessed you! I do t recognize your name though. You were a friend of my Dad Lyle Cook?