Peace

Peace! Be Still!

As many of you are aware, this government shutdown has affected several agencies and many

thousands of individuals, to include my husband, Pat.

At first it meant having Pat’s holiday vacation cancelled and then as days moved into weeks, it

meant we will not be getting his next paycheck that covers most of our bills. Then it is figuring

out what bills to pay and what needs to wait. And to add to all this, there is no apparent end in

sight.

Pat has been strong through it all, but me on the other hand, well let’s just say it has been a

very different story. Some moments I am hopeful and other moments, I am in despair. I admit, it

does not help that I keep checking the news online trying to see what updates have been

posted.

Thank God for His Word. It has become my lifeline to remind me to not fret or worry and to put

my energies into praying about everything. To keep my trust in Him and not focus on the

circumstances surrounding me. I love how His peace comes flooding in to keep my thoughts

and heart quiet.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t

forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far

more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and

your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6-7 TLB

While at church Sunday, it seemed the worship was all about peace. One song entitled “Peace

Be Still” by Bethel Music particularly spoke to me. In fact, the words kept going through my

thoughts all day and into my prayer time that night. I was reminded that this government

shutdown and all that goes with it is like a storm that can be fierce and overwhelming at one

moment and SUDDENLY be still and calm the next.

My thoughts turned to Mark 4:35-41, describing the disciples caught suddenly in a life-

threatening storm. They woke Jesus up and He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Peace!

Be Still! And suddenly the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

I was reminded that I have that same power and authority to speak to the storm facing our

nation. To be confident that just as suddenly as this storm came, it can just as suddenly end

with no trace of it ever having been there in the first place.

Maybe your storm is not the government shutdown, and it is something completely unrelated. I

want to encourage you today to don’t give up; don’t be impatient! Be brave and do not lose

hope. God will not disappoint you. He will not let you down. (See Psalm 27:14 TPT)

Speak to the storms of your life and declare, “Peace! Be Still” and experience a knowing that in

due course He can make a way where there seems to be no way.

Blessings,

Cindy