"When something in your life or thoughts makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying: 'Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more.' Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me. The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems. My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed."
--- Jesus Calling, March 1st.
I am not a daily Bible-reader, journal-writer, or devotional-devourer. I am not good at continually doing something every day. But I do talk to God. A lot. I chat about my day, I talk about all the wonderful and inspiring people in my life, I thank Him for all the blessings He has given me. I cry and beg and plead more often than not. And I do believe He is listening, sometimes probably with hands over His ears to muffle my whining, but He DOES listen. I know this because I get answers. Not always the clear shout out or instruction booklet I'd very much appreciate (hint here, God...) but He talks to me. Especially when I have no idea how to keep going any longer.
- A couple weeks ago through my friend Kaile who said just the right things to get me through the day.
- Through my incredibly strong friends Molly and Gary who I admire more than they will ever know, who are my role models and inspirations.
- Through the devotional I quoted above, which always has the most perfect "letter from God" for the exact day I need it most.
And that is what I needed most today. The reminder that God WANTS to hear about what's going on in my life. Not just the good things, but also all the bad things that are happening in my life. All the worries I have, the anxieties, the fears, the pains. That is quite incredible, don't you think? That there is someone who cares about you more than you could ever imagine, who wants to be a part of your life, who listens to all your whining and begging and will never have too much of it. Someone who cries with you, laughs with you, loves with you... I think that is quite incredible.
But not only does He listen, He also promises peace. His Peace. We only have to trust that He will not leave us alone but will equip us with all the things we need to get through this journey, this plan He has prepared for us. We only have to trust. Sounds quite easy, doesn't it? But it is not. It is the hardest thing we will ever do. Trust in something we can't necessarily see, hear, touch. That is hard. It is a leap of faith. Literally. It's like jumping over a cliff not being able to see the other side but trusting that it is close enough for us to reach and not to fall.
So here I am. Finally starting the long process of surrendering that I have been fighting for so long.
Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to trust you more.
Trust. That's the key.
Love, Eileen
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The two verses to go with the Jesus Calling Devotional today are
Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you."
