Do Not Be Troubled... BELIEVE.

Surprise! A blog post from me!  It's been awhile I know, nearly a year. A mama who we traveled with in China posted recently using the word "Trauma-versary" for our one year anniversary of Gotcha Day.  Yes.  Very true.  Excellent word.  This past year has had some very deep waters but God... He is a redeemer!  I finally obeyed that still, small voice and opened my Bible. God led me to the exact Words I needed.  I process things by writing and I've done very little writing this past year.  Lately, however I've been writing more so I'll share a bit of what's in my heart. 

John 14. Have you read it lately?  I'll wait if you want to look it up here.  

It’s been my place to camp out for about a week now.  I felt drawn to these verses during the tumultuous times in which we live.

“Do not be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Me.” 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

It’s really that simple.  Jesus tells us the way to peace and hope.  Here’s a hint, 

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CIRCUMSTANCES.  

Truly, if we are to have peace it will be found by believing in Christ and in the Father.  The peace He gives us is not as the world gives.  It’s other worldly.  In order to believe, we must know Him, we must know His Word and we must dwell there.  When circumstances attempt to sweep us away we must cling to the Rock of the Word trusting what the Spirit enlightens to our hearts and brings to our minds in the midst of trying times. 

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this about John 14:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:1-11 Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be laid. Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted. The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God. The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time, be not you so. Christ's disciples, more than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else is unquiet.

See that, Stress has no place in the believer.  We can keep our minds quiet as we focus on Him.  Easy? No. But with practice, taking our fear, frustration, disappointment to him again and again and again it begins to be a habit when stress overwhelms us to turn to the ONE who can do something about the things that are completely out of our control.  

What freedom! What peace, trusting as a child with child-like faith in the Father that truly He cares for us.  He is preparing a place for us and He is preparing us for that place.