When Peace is Difficult to Find

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14

Are you having trouble finding peace this Christmas season?

Oftentimes Christmas is thought about as a time of joy and laughter and presents. However, my heart has been burdened lately for the ones around me who are hurting this Christmas season.

As I sit and think about those who will be spending their first Christmas without a loved one, I wonder how they will find peace. Then, my heart is touched by Romans 15:13 which reads: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Friends, this verse reminds me that peace can only come from God. It is not found in any present. Peace can not be bought or made. Peace comes from knowing that no matter what we are facing right now, God is in control. You see, the only way to know true peace is to know its source, Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage you today. If you are facing trials this Christmas season that are making it difficult for you to find peace in your heart, look to Jesus. He is the giver of peace. If you will allow Him to come in and fill you with his love, peace will come as well.

Let us remember to pray for those who are hurting. May God wrap them in His comfort and bring peace to their hearts today.

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Some Advice From a Fixer

“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.”
Ecclesiastes 11:5

Do you ever find yourself trying to figure it all out?

I will tell you something about myself that you may not know. I am a fixer, a problem solver.

When I was a little girl, I once took my bike apart because it was not working properly and I was determined to fix it. I had no problem getting the bike apart, however, putting it back together was a totally different story. After many failed attempts I had to ask my Dad to help fix my mess.

Even now as an adult, I find myself in situations where I feel the need to figure it all out. If there is something going on in life that I do not understand then I feel it is my job to figure it out. If there is a problem, I feel as if I should fix it.

There are times when this type of personality can be helpful, yet there are other times when I get so busy trying to figure life out that I forget to practice my faith.

More times than not, I end up making a bigger mess of things. I find myself in the same situation I was in when I was a little girl. I have to go to my Dad for help. This time, however, I am speaking of my Heavenly Father, the creator of the universe.

After all my failed attempts at fixing my own problems or figuring out a situation for myself, I take my tangled mess and lay it at the feet of Jesus. I humbly confess that I just can not do it on my own. Each time I do this I am met with forgiveness and compassion. Jesus takes my mess and does what I can never do on my own. He makes it beautiful in His time.

The verse I have shared today is from one of my morning devotions. As I read this Scripture I was reminded that I do no always have to understand everything and that I do not have to fix everything. Oh, what peace I felt in my heart when I read the words in Ecclesiastes 11:5: “So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.”

Friend, if you are a fixer like I am, let me encourage you today. Stop trying to figure it all out. Life is full of things we do not understand. Praise God, we were not put on this earth to wander and struggle through each day. We have a Heavenly Father that understands all, knows all, and sees all. If we will stop trying to fix it ourselves and hand it over to Him, He will make beauty out of even the most impossible situation.

What are you holding onto today? What problem have you been trying to fix yourself, only to find that it is an even bigger mess now? Give it to God. Lay it at His feet. Confess that you can not figure this out on your own, and allow God to take it. You will be amazed at the outcome.