Journal Entry ~ 12/27/19

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. (John 14:27 NIV)

I know His peace. I know what it means to feel peace despite the chaos in front of me. I know what it means to few peace when I am wrongly accused and when the diagnosis comes. I know what it means to feel peace when a marriage fails, when relationships break apart, and when a child is swept away by the evil in this world. I know what it means to feel peace as I watch a loved one leave this world, or to have a baby taken too soon from my womb. I know what it means to feel peace as my financial security crumbles and my home is taken away from me. There are have been so many days I literally stand in awe at how I am blessed with the calm assurance that He is at work as I have looked into the chaos of my life.

I learned many years ago that content people have peace. Contentment became something I meditated on frequently. If I wanted to know His peace as I journeyed through this difficult life, then I was going to need to learn what it means to be content.

Contentment is a state of satisfaction of happiness with your current situation. I once thought in order to be content with your life, you needed to have things the way you wanted them. But that’s not it - contentment is simply the acceptance that this is the way things are going to be. It doesn’t mean they have to be the way I want them to be, it doesn’t mean I have to like my circumstances, but it does mean I have to be satisfied that they are the way they are going to be - at least for now.

Contentment means despite the unjust accusations or difficult diagnosis, despite the broken relationships, prodigal son, or financial ruin, even despite the life being taken far too soon, I needed to be satisfied with what was in front of me. How can you be okay with all that tragedy happening? It’s not possible in my own power. Contentment on our own is simply out of reach.

What is possible is a belief and a trust in a sovereign God - a God who is ruler over all things happening in my life. Coupled with that belief is the most important part of my understanding - I believe that my God is working all things for my good. ALL things. It doesn’t matter what He allows into my life, I know the ultimate outcome is for good. He’s proven this to me over and over and over. In each one of the heartbreaking circumstances I listed above, He has shown up faithful to work my circumstances our perfectly for good.

Content people know His peace. While I am far from perfect at being content, God is transforming my heart to have a deep understanding of His goodness. I know that regardless of what is in front of me, He is sovereign over it all and He is working it out for good. This understanding allows me to accept whatever lies in front of me with satisfaction and even happiness - because I know though the road may be hard, He has goodness in it for me.

Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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