I’ve been struggling with what to write for the past few days. Every time I sat down at my laptop, the words just wouldn’t come. I wanted to write about thankfulness. I started to write about respect. But each time, a cork held back my thoughts and I couldn’t get the words to come out.

This year has been the most globally turbulent I think we’ve seen in my lifetime. So many changes brought on by the virus. I’ve been pushed to my breaking point on more than one occasion, and I am sure you can relate as well. For the first time since March, I am getting tested today. I was exposed to someone who tested positive. I don’t feel sick and I don’t have any symptoms, except for a slight cough and my asthma has been flaring up. So, for the last few days, my husband and I have been sequestered in our house, working from home, just like so many others.

I’ve been reading a book each morning as part of my quiet time. It was written by Elisabeth Elliot, who is quickly becoming a woman I seek to become more like. Her book, Keep a Quiet Heart, is a collection of letters and what she called a “newsletter”. Her “blog” if you will.  Yesterday I read about a time she was verbally attacked and how wounded it made her feel. As a person who works in customer service, I can certainly relate to that! But she said, “…but when I ran to God about it, He reminded me of part of a prayer I’d been using lately; ‘Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all’.” Wow! So much of that struck me! Treat all that comes to me with peace. Your will governs all. Teach me. Just taking that at its core…don’t get so upset! Don’t fester on it! Don’t fret! Don’t worry! Let it go! His will governs all. Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” And Job 42:2, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

So, as we enter into a new year, with a new president and all the changes that will ensue, DON’T FRET! DON’T WORRY! LET IT GO! Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.” Take your troubles, your pain, and your plans to the Lord and ask him to give you peace, ask him to help your heart accept his will. Then, rest in His plan and His sovereign power and his love.

My test came back negative and all my worries about getting tested came to naught. Today, I ask him to give me His peace, that goes beyond all human understanding. I will lift up our nation, leaders, and people, and ask God to touch their hearts with His Spirit. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4  -Amen

If you’d like to know more about Jesus and how much he loves you, please follow this link, https://stepstopeace.org/.