My Four Steps to Peace
It was a very dark place with uncertainty surrounding me. It seemed that I was paralyzed with fear and doubt. Unable to take even one step forward, I stood there not knowing what to do. As my mind swirled with frightening thoughts, suddenly it landed on one that brought a glimpse of light and I spoke the word. “God.” I had always known that God is near, but now He seemed far away. “God,” I cried. “I need you!” Now my mind was flooded with new, more peaceful thoughts. God is here. God cares. God helps. God guides. God protects. God quiets. God rescues. God is light. God is peace. My heart was filled with praise and I took a step toward peace.
Now, thoughts of past mistakes pounded through my head. Guilt. Shame. Darkness dimmed the light that I had seen. I cried out once again, “God, I am sorry! Forgive me.” As I spoke those words, the light became bright once again. Repentance brought a sense of relief and I was able to take another step. Once again peace appeared and it was closer than it had been before.
Hope slipped gently into my mind and as it did I remembered things from the past that had given me encouragement. Healing. Provision. Safety. Forgiveness. Blessings. I wanted to acknowledge all the ways God had worked in my life and in the lives of those I love. I spoke aloud saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” As I did, I felt the sweet peace I sought once again filling my heart and illuminating my path.
As I took another step, suddenly my heart was filled with anxious thoughts. Needs. Fears. Relationships. Finances. Health. I struggled, trying to take another step, but once again I could not move. It was as though I had come to a giant wall that kept me from moving forward. The wall blocked the light that had kept me moving forward and I did not know what to do. I closed my eyes and breathed a simple prayer, “God, I know you are near. I know you are able to remove the wall that keeps me from your peace. I trust in You. I yield to Your power and strength. Help me.” I opened my eyes and the wall was gone. The room was full of light and I could see that there was nothing to fear. What had once been a dark and fearful place, now was a place of peace.
Four steps had taken me from darkness to peace.
Praise: With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever. Psalm 86:12 (NLT)
Repent: Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:4-5 (NLT)
Acknowledge: Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:3-5 (NLT)
Yield: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
P R A Y
PRAY: Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
When you find yourself in a place of darkness, join me – step by step – and enter God’s perfect peace.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You –
all whose thoughts are fixed (focused) on You. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Thank you so very much. I really needed to hear that right now. God Bless.
I enjoyed this post so much, it filled me with peace, blessings Gloria
What a powerful message, Carol. I have found myself in distress, however when I drew close to Him, He gave me His peace and strength.
No better place than in His peace. I’ve had to lean upon His understanding these past few weeks during this recovery of surgery. Even when we can’t understand, we can trust God! ?