A Peace Like No Other

A little over a month ago, I began to pray about a couple of different issues. All of these issues weighed heavily on my heart. For some, I had an idea as to what kind of answer I would prefer; while others I really didn't know what was best. In every case though, I earnestly and sincerely prayed, day after day, that God would lead me in the best path whether it was as I would imagine or otherwise.

In the last week, I have seen answers to two of those prayers. Neither came in the form that I expected and both present me with a daunting task that initially left me worried and wondering "Can I handle this?". In the days to follow, I have had a chance to talk with a few people about these situations and through those discussions, something became clear to me. God answered my prayers. While the answer may seem daunting to me now, God knows this is what is best for me. Because of that, I can rest assured that I can handle what is to come. It's amazing the immediate and all-encompassing peace I found once I realized that. It is truly a peace like no other- even though the circumstances have not changed.

You see it all comes down to how I go about with the handling of it and where I look for strength and guidance. When I look at all of the circumstances before me through my human eyes alone, they are intimidating, daunting and overwhelming, but when I look at them through eyes of faith in God's might and power, I know everything is possible. The issue is not now nor has it ever been whether or not God is able, "for nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) The issue is and always has been do I have the faith to believe in the limitless power and knowledge of God? We are taught in Matthew that we limit ourselves when we lack faith. "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20-21) Nothing within my ability could make a mountain move, but for God, such a task is a breeze. I am able to take hold of such power when I place my faith solely and completely in Him. So in the end, it all comes down to daily, minute by minute, relying on Christ for His strength, His comfort, His guidance and power- placing my complete and uninterrupted faith in Him.

While finding peace in the knowledge of God's answer is a blessing in and of itself, this is not the end of how I have watched God work in my life and thoughts this past week. Of those situations I was dedicated in lifting up a month ago, there is still one that is not completely answered (or so it seems to me). As I wait upon the Lord for His guidance and answer, I have found that my worrying and questioning over this situation have been replaced with great peace because I know there is nothing better than to wait on the Lord and allow Him to work His will in my life. If I but let Him, He will lead me down the best path in this situation as well. It may not be what I would want, but it will be amazing all the same because I know my patience and willingness to wait will lead to a better ending than I could create for myself.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Beyond the Manger

This morning at church, our minister preached on what the babe in the manger had to tell us about Christmas, and specifically, what the babe had to say was the reason for why he came. The sermon took me back to a lesson I learned last Christmas from none other than our little girl. She was right at 18 months old and I remember she was fascinated with my various nativity sets. Her greatest interest was the little baby Jesus in the manger. This interest was not perhaps what you might initially expect. Without fail every day, she would remove (or try to remove-depending on the set), Jesus from the manger. She was determined that he did not belong there. I'm certain part of this came from her interest to understand how things come apart and go back together (a quality she has had since infancy), but as I picked up each baby Jesus and placed him back in his manger, I realized there was a great lesson there. Yes at Christmas, we think of Jesus as a little baby born in humble circumstances with nothing but a manger for a bed, but the story didn't end there. Hallelujah! The story continues to this very day because after his birth in the stable, he went on to be a man who walked this earth, become the Savior of this world, and rose victorious as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Our little daughter was right. Jesus doesn't belong in the manger. What a wonderful blessing to remember this at this time of the year. What we celebrate at Christmas would mean nothing if Christ didn't later allow himself to be die on the cross and then rise again, victorious over death. Instead of a little baby in the manger, I serve a risen Lord, one who sits at the right of God in heaven watching over and interceding on behalf of those who call him Lord and Savior.