Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself. Worrying always results in sin.
Oswald Chambers
Recently, as I reflected on John 14:1, I wrote, “It all begins when we believe in Him—the antidote to a troubled heart. The acknowledgment of another Kingdom, one we see with our spirit resting in Him. So much of the way we live our lives is practical atheism. Our unbelief is robbing us of peace, His Peace. He promised it; we are the ones who, in our pride, refuse to believe it and receive it. Suppose we would only take Jesus’ words for Truth. Everything changed when I began internalizing these Words, receiving them, claiming them, and believing that what Jesus said was true. Everything.”
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after Elohim: Elohim is not in all his thoughts.” Psalm 10:4
The morning I jotted those words down in my journal, God allowed me to walk in His promises, a real-life chance to practice what He’s been teaching me, abiding in all things.
His Interruption
Driving to work, I glanced down; something in the road caught my attention… Lord, You know how much I hate seeing animals suffer. I have never shaken the early memory of watching a Jeep speed around the corner in front of our house, leaving my puppy lifeless in the street; I didn’t want to look. That memory still floods my mind in these scenarios. But here, He speaks to my heart, to look beyond myself and stop.
My heart ached as I approached a lifeless kitten. As I bent down to move its tiny body from the road, its eyelids slowly opened, revealing slate-blue eyes. I bent down and lifted it off the road, surprised not to see any visible injuries. It was soaking wet, so I wiped it off with napkins from the glove box as I prayed over this little life. “Lord, I know you see the sparrow fall; help me help him…” I see a truck coming in the distance; it stops. The driver, my husband, looks at me with a look I know all too well, yet says, “I can take him home and put him in the carrier,”…the next logical thing.
As I drove to work, I refused to have a heavy heart, God, into Your hands, I submit my will, my time, my worries, and all that I hold dear. This was the beginning of all the God puzzle pieces that came together that day, leading to the place where I hold a tiny, fluffy, purring kitten this morning, a little miracle.
Trust, Again
A few days later, I was given another chance to trust as I experienced a spontaneous retinal tear. As I think about the events that led to the diagnosis and complete restoration of my sight, I am in awe of all God is doing in my heart. Through the daily practice of surrendering my will to His, He again gave me His peace, this time as my sight was threatened.
Training Ground
God is teaching me to abide in all things through my daily circumstances. I’m learning to pick up the pieces He places in front of me and although sometimes with a sigh, look up to heaven, Ephphatha, now what? As I stood on the road that morning, I realized there was no anxiety in the transaction, just childlike trust. Lord, You brought this to my path; now what? And as my vision was threatened, I surrendered asking Him, now what? I am learning as I place the pieces back into His hands, He faithfully reveals the next step. I am no longer trying to solve all the hypothetical problems and future outcomes. I’m learning to be in the now and abide in real life. Surrendering my will, my time, and my ambitions to the One Supreme Yahweh, my Elohim, one moment at a time.
Transforming Mundane Moments
So often, we look for the big moments and trials to prove our faith. But, I’m learning it’s in the everyday circumstances, that I learn to trust Him and see His hand. Learning to surrender the day-to-day is where we train for the life-shattering. Recognizing His Peace and Presence transforms the mundane.
“For I Yahweh thy Elohim will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Is 41:13
Building on Surrender
I ache to share this newness of life that I have discovered. Abiding in His Presence is a place where unexplainable peace floods unexpected places (John 14:27). I am learning it all hinges on surrender. But the truth is, we cannot fully surrender to One whom we do not know. When I determined to know God through the lens of the Bible alone, He revealed Himself to me through Jesus (John 14:21). As I’ve learned who the Father is, through the life and death of the Son, everything has changed! It began with setting aside everything I had believed about God. I chose to allow His Spirit alone to teach me (John 14:26), and I began to see His Word in a new way.
Begin Living
I invite you to join me on this journey of experiencing the Peace only Jesus can give. It’s no longer just theory for me. I will keep sharing how He changes my life to encourage you to seek Him with intention. I’m confident if you give Him the chance, He will reveal Himself to you in ways you never imagined! He will bring life, joy, and peace into your everyday moments.