The Future

Sometimes if you pay too close attention to what's going on in the news, with politics, in the medical/military/religious

whatever ... you can become frightened by what you see. As this world trends toward worse and worse things, in whatever arena, it's easy to be fearful of what lies ahead. I won't go into details about all that's invoking fear in me currently, but if you know me well enough, you'll already know. :)

I was thinking that there was no way that I would ever get sleep tonight, worrying about the possibly scary scenarios that might play out for holistic-health Jesus-lovers like me and my husband, and our precious daughters. I'm a worrier by nature, and when I've heard some alarming news report, I tend to get over-anxious (my poor husband can attest).

So tonight as I prayed, I prayed specifically for peace. And an extra measure of protection for my family. And that no matter what, God would keep us together and keep us strong.

While I was still praying, Maezie woke up in a PANIC. She's just getting to the age where she's starting to have bad dreams, I guess. Kyleigh started this around this age too. She cried her scared-sleepy cry and I ran in to get her. I snuggled her up in my arms with her blanket and her favorite bear, and sat in my recliner and rocked her and sang to her. She calmed down quite a bit, but not entirely. As I rocked some more, she fussily asked "muh? muh?" which is Maezie-language for milk (as in, Mommy's milk - yes, I'm still nursing her). I OF COURSE obliged her. From the first swallow, her entire body relaxed, her eyes closed, the creases in her brow smoothed, and she was at PEACE. She nursed for maybe about five minutes, and then drifted off to a peaceful, worry-free, safe ... sleep.

The relief in my own mind was just as instantaneous. God uses some pretty powerful personal moments sometimes, doesn't He?

No matter what happens, God is God - He is Jehovah, He is MIGHTY, He is the strong tower. Come what may, I will always be His precious child. He will carry me and snuggle me. And as long as I continue to ask, "muh? muh?" (read : continue to pray, continue to read His Word, continue to seek Him, continue to ground myself in His Truth) ... there is no storm that He can't calm, no problem too big for Him to fix, and no furrowed brow that He can't smooth out. But I need to seek His peace, and find it - probably everyday. Like a mother and her nursing babe, there is NOTHING so sweet to that baby as it's Mommy's milk and snuggles. No bottle, no toy, no other person - NOTHING - compares with the comfort of mother and her milk.

I think we need to approach God in much the same emotional manner. There is nothing that can soothe like He can. We can't seek our peace and comfort in materialistic things, in music, in our jobs, in anything other than Him. And if we hold fast to Him, and ask Him to fill us - I firmly believe that no matter what life may throw at us, and no matter what the media is reporting, and no matter what may or may not actually come to pass - He will always be there to fill us with His Peace.

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.

Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you.

2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:17-21 (I used NIV for this one because I like its translation best, but used NKJV for all the previous ones.)
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.