Peace
For over a week now, I’ve been contemplating. What will I say about Christ to my readers this Christmas? Sometimes the Lord puts a message on my heart that can’t wait to be written. Other times, the message is there, but the words aren’t, and I have to wait. Wait for the Lord to let me know what He wants said. Wait until He’s ready and until He’s led the right people here to read them. Wait until those people are listening for Him.
This week that time came. I knew I would tell you that this was an important week for my family. Ten years ago, ten days before Christmas, we learned of my dad’s cancer. We thought at that time that it would be our last Christmas together on earth. It was the beginning of a new understanding for us. It was the day that would change us from who we were to who we could be…people who experienced God more.
And so we have celebrated this week. I can’t begin to write ten years’ worth of experiences in this one post, but I have tried to share some of those things from time to time here. And I’ve appreciated the opportunity to do that. We’ve been given countless gifts as a family from the hand of God, including ten extra Christmases together we didn’t think we’d have, unexpected blessings we don’t deserve, and the gift of awareness of the brevity of life. But one of the best gifts the Lord has given us through the many ups and downs of this experience is PEACE.
Peace. It’s what the whole world wishes for, but so few are truly experiencing. It won’t come from leaders and law-makers or treaties and truces. That may bring temporary quiet from time to time. But, the peace we really need comes only from God into a heart that’s open to Him. It cannot be explained. It can only be felt. It’s the only thing that can comfort that person who just learned they have cancer. And the only thing that can help the parents of those precious children in Connecticut.
Who am I to ask an all-knowing, all-powerful God why certain things happen? His ways are not our ways. But, I do know that He has a reason for allowing everything. And I’ve learned that one of those reasons is to teach us what we cannot learn otherwise.
I cannot imagine experiencing some of the things other people do without God beside me. If you are searching for peace, God wants you to know He can give it. Stop searching all over for peace that isn’t there and find real peace in Him. If you want to know how to find Him, contact me.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote it well in his song, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”:
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
December 16, 2012 @ 8:39 pm
Best post I've read online in a long time. Thanks for sharing it.
December 16, 2012 @ 9:51 pm
Oh, Julie, what a beautiful post! True peace can only come from God. Thank you for this.
Blessings,
Shelia 😉
December 16, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
Julie- What a beautiful poignant post. You are right- true peace comes from within-with the acknowledgment that God is in control and we are not. It is a hard lesson to learn sometimes. This has been an awful week- a week of feeling guilty for having my elementary age grandchildren nestled to my side while I know others will never experience that joy again….of feeling FULL of all I have…a week of grieving for those that have lost God's most precious gift on Earth. God bless and protect us all. This was a wonderful post- xo Diana
December 16, 2012 @ 10:53 pm
Thank you for this message tonight, Julie. I am so glad for the 10 years you didn't expect to have with your dad, and for finding peace through your sorrows. I hope the families in Connecticut can find peace in all of this.
December 16, 2012 @ 10:57 pm
Julie- what a meaningful and beautiful post that I hope will get others thinking about how to bring peace into their lives. Happy Holidays to you!
December 17, 2012 @ 7:01 pm
perfectly said. thank you.
December 17, 2012 @ 9:03 pm
Thank you so much. It was just what I needed– especially the Longfellow quote at the end. I've shared it on Facebook, along with a link to your post 😉
January 1, 2013 @ 11:17 pm
I'm not sure how I exactly starting following your blog, but I love it. I deal with depression a lot in my life some periods are great and some are Really, REALLY bad. A couple of years ago the word 'hope' was given to be. I read it in verses, heard it in music, friends etc. Then 2012 my word for the year became 'joy' and I really was able to find it. 2013 my word is 'peace'. I think it's great that today, the first day of 2013 I read your blog and smiled. Thank you for sharing your heart, your life, and your home with people all over.
January 2, 2013 @ 2:03 am
So glad the Lord has led you this way 🙂 It's a great start to my year, too!