God's Peace Which Passeth All Understanding

            6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

            7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

~Philippians 4:6-8~

        I have had this passage of Scripture on my mind since last night. I know of several people who are going through some major stuff right now in their lives. I have been praying for them. I am not necessarily praying for their trial to be over (God might want them to go through it. And, if He does, there is a reason). One of the main things I have been praying for is for the peace which passeth all understanding to consume them. I was praying for someone last night at our weekly church prayer meeting. This person is going through a lot right now. I am not sure why, but I know God has a purpose and a plan in all of it. I just pray that God's Perfect Peace will totally consume this individual. I have gone through some stuff in my life, not a lot (compared to most people), but I am definitely not asking for more =P. I can remember times, in my life, when I honestly did not think I could go on. I remember there being times when I would go to the church and just cry out before God for Him to take whatever I was going through away from me. I remember crying out to God to give me peace. Yes, I wanted the storm to be over. Yes, I didn't understand why I was going through whatever I was going through. Yes, I wanted answers. I wanted to know why. But, I learned a long time ago, God doesn't always tell you why. God doesn't always offer an explanation. So, in addition to my begging for a reason why, I also begged for peace. And you know what? I can remember countless times of it just being God and myself in the sanctuary...and I could feel His Arms wrap around me. I felt safe in His embrace. Safe enough to know that it didn't matter what life brought my way, I was going to trust in God. I will be the first to say that I have not always trusted in God. So many times, I "easily" forget the times with Him and the feelings of peace I felt. But I am still here. I have fallen...time and time again. But I am still here. There have been so many times where I have felt that I could not go on. But I am still here. I remember my Pastor saying that the reason tests you, is because He trusts you. God allowed Job to go what he went through, because He trusted that Job would make it through that storm. The storms and trials we go through, in life, will hopefully make us stronger. If we survive the storm, we will be stronger than before. Don't give up in the middle of your trial. Don't break God's trust. God trusts us to make it through the trials He allows us to go through. Don't let Him down. Don't let yourself down. Don't let your family down. Don't let your friends down. Don't let your church down. And don't give the devil the satisfaction!

        Just a little bit of what has been going on in my mind since last night. God won't always tell you why you are going through your storm, but He will give you Peace.

I Will Trust In You

You are my hiding place.

You always fill my heart with songs 
of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid.

I will trust in You.

I will trust in You. 

Let the weak say,

"I am strong

In the strength of the Lord."

I will trust in You.

~Michael Ledner

I have had this song on my mind a lot lately. In life, we go through things that can't always be controlled. We struggle. We go through storms. Storms we can't control. But the thing about us, as humans, is... we keep trying to control the storms in our lives. No matter what. Storms that we try to control, never had a good ending. Sometimes, our storm doesn't end at all...as long as we try to control it. But...once we give control - complete control - to God, then, even though we are going through a storm, we can trust that God will bring us THROUGH the storm. So many people, in life today, say they believe in God, and they even say they trust in God, but...when the true test comes, they still try and take control of their storm. The thing is, and this has happened with me as well, we finally get to the point where we trust God. We give the situation, whatever it may be, over to God. But...once we see God doing something in our situation that we don't agree with, we try and take control again. That is not true trust. It's either we trust in Him, or not. God, help us to fully trust in You - no matter what life brings our way.

Just something that has been on my mind the last few days. I struggle with this daily. There are so many things going on in my life, and I try to take control. I'll be honest, it's scary handing the reins over to someone else. It really is. But it's not like we are handing them over to a stranger...we are handing them over to the God who created the universe! I think He knows what He's doing! I know, easier said than done...so, just take this as a challenge. I am challenging myself as well. Let's try and give control of our lives to the One Who created us! Like the song says, "I am strong, in the strength of the Lord. I will trust in you!"