Work in Progress…Fear to Peace – Part 1

“I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” John 14:27 (CEV) 

I love the idea of Throwback Thursday because it conjures up memories from the past; usually childhood memories. But this Thursday brought back more recent memories…a few weeks ago on the Suwannee River. ‘Though only a few miles away; it seemed like we turned back time for 5 days. No TV, sketchy phone reception, little human encounter; but lots of nature. This ‘come away’ gave me a much-needed break. A break I didn’t even realize I needed. 

That’s because… 

Sometimes I am so busy, I don’t realize I am tangled up in fear. So tangled I can’t see it. I just feel weird, out of sorts. That’s how I felt when we went camping on the Suwannee River. I went because it’s what we planned. But God knew what I needed.  

Trees, gently moving water, fish swimming, baby alligator sunning, birds flying overhead…God’s order, beauty, peace.  

As I walked the boardwalk leading to the river, tangled fear unraveled like a ball in the pit of my stomach.  Fear about the future, what if things don’t work out as planned…what if this lingering gas pain is more than just gas…what if something happens to me and I can’t take care of Larry…what if  all our affairs are not in order the correct way… what if I don’t have the time, motivation to declutter the shed, my office, the TV room? AGAIN! Where does all this stuff come from? Will I have the energy, joy, I once had? Will stress, lack of sleep hurt me irreparably? Will I ever lose this weight? Will the hair in my bang area and temples ever grow back? Serious to mundane. 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You” Isaiah 26: 3 (NLT) 

To be honest, my thoughts were not fixed on God. My thoughts were fixed on all the stuff swirling around in my head and knotting my stomach.  I kept walking. And silently pleaded, “God guide me from this fear to peace.” God seemed to say look around you, I just did….  

 God, help me see your peace in all that is around me. Help me see You, feel You, trust You when my thoughts are fixed on my fears… not You. Thank You Father. Amen. 

 P.S. By Day 3,  God had guided me from fear to peace. The subject of my next “Throwback Thursday” blog. Please join me next week.