Peace

Lately I've been contemplating the meaning of peace. As I read about friends expecting a new baby and friends who are waiting to adopt and friends struggling with an autistic child, I'm blown away by how simple my life has become. My bills are being paid; I'm living in a wonderful house on four acres; I'm enjoying my job and my co-workers. I have the opportunity and joy of playing piano at CenterPointe and leading the youth there with two other amazing couples. I'm even perfectly okay with not being in Romania right now knowing that the Lord has things for me to do here and now. The most complicated things I'm dealing with right now are student loan debt and deciding whether or not we will get a dog.

I guessed I've lived in so much turmoil I'm really amazed when I look at my life and see simplicity. I've always understood the "peace that passes understanding" in the hard times, but now that my life is so simple I wonder if what I'm feeling is really peace. After all, what is courage without something to overcome? And what is compassion without suffering? Can true inner peace exist without turmoil?

I thank God over and over for giving me such still waters for a time, but I can't help but wonder why. I've never known such stillness and it's almost unnerving. I feel like Esther when she first came into the palace of the king and was taken as his wife. Everything is different. I am taken care of, my bills are paid. And yet I know the words of Esther 4:14 are so true in my life still, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”; I know the Lord has given me this verse for this season in my life, though I admit I'm not entirely sure why. Surely this peace is part of His plan and will be used to further His will in our lives. I want to remember to be thankful for this peace and to praise God in every season.

Thank you Lord for still waters and let remember to be thankful in all things.

"All of my life, in every season, you are still God; I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship."