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As I am writing this week, Nashville and middle Tennessee has experienced a devastating flood unlike anything that I have seen in my 16 years of living here. There are now many people without homes and businesses ruined facing, at best, an uncertain future. While I sit comfortably in my home I cannot imagine the deluge of emotions facing those who have been displaced by this event. The place where they felt safe and secure, with pictures of the kids on the wall, the wedding album tucked away under the coffee table, and the decorated bedrooms that spoke to the personality of each family member with the carefully selected paint colors is now destroyed by flood waters. They have to be dealing with all kinds of questions wondering if they will be able to return home, if they will need to rebuild, if the insurance is going to cover it all, and if any of their pictures, and memories are salvageable. With that, there are also many who have even lost loved ones, and I am sure above all they would give anything to have them back with us. Yes, my friend even for the faith filled this is a difficult moment.
Last week, as I was praying about what God would have me share He spoke to me about His peace. I had no idea the events that have occurred were going to take place. But I do understand now, that God wants to comfort his people here in the Nashville area, and in other places who are facing difficult situations. It is not easy to walk through a storm or a chaotic situation and not be overrun by the circumstances.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Contrary to what some may think peace is not an oblivious, zombie like state of mind that is unaware of circumstances and professes not to feel pain or emotion. Or a super spiritual state that only elite Christians achieve.
Peace is a by product of trusting God and His love for us. Peace is aware of trouble, aware of chaos, aware of circumstances and grief. Peace can experience emotions, but has made a decision to depend on God and to trust in Him no matter what. So while a person who is walking in peace may cry tears, they are not hopeless tears. They may even feel disappointment, but it does not change their expectation for re-appointment. Even as they face fear, they are not afraid. And while they may be losing everything they ever owned, they are nowhere near losing their mind, because it is stayed, steady, fixed, concentrated, on the fact that no matter what God is still God and even in this I trust Him because I know He loves me.
He loves you.
He is with you.
And His desire is that you would have His peace.
In Jesus Name,
Mary Tiller-Woods
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