Peace You Don't Have to Fake
Life will throw us curve balls - unexpected news, trials, and tragedy. How can we have true Peace in the middle of the storm? It's not about everything going right, and it's not even about pretending that everything is. It's how we process the pain that matters.
Are you grieving in a healthy way? It's not enough just to feel our grief. We've got that covered! There needs to be an expression of grief, and everyone's expression will be different. There's nothing wrong with that. But as a believer in Christ, our lament should be far different from those who don't know Jesus...for we have hope.
JOURNAL: What is something you are grieving this Christmas season? How are you processing the pain that accompanies that grief?
The holidays are one of the hardest times of the year for many people. Anxiety and restlessness grow as we try to meet expectations, manage responsibilities, and fill voids. We feel loss of any kind much deeper, and we are weary. Our emotional tank is empty, and that won't take us far.
But God is still on the throne. We don't have to do it all on our own. It starts with how we think.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
We don't have to understand Peace to have Peace. All we have to do is ask. God is ready to actively guard our hearts and minds against the enemy.
So as we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks and maybe deal with some difficult feelings, remember it can be well with your soul no matter what you are facing. Not because we are great at navigating our grief, but because the One who IS walks beside us every step of the way.
ACTIVATION: Consider reaching out to a mentor, pastor, or counselor to discuss healthy ways to begin processing your grief. Then when days are especially hard, remember these words that Pastor Michael Chandler shared from the Holy Spirit in a message a few Christmas seasons ago:
"Child, I love you, and I'm never ashamed by you or the questions you have. I'm ok with where you are. I'm patient. I'm not in a hurry. I'm close to the brokenhearted. I am with you."
Are you grieving in a healthy way? It's not enough just to feel our grief. We've got that covered! There needs to be an expression of grief, and everyone's expression will be different. There's nothing wrong with that. But as a believer in Christ, our lament should be far different from those who don't know Jesus...for we have hope.
JOURNAL: What is something you are grieving this Christmas season? How are you processing the pain that accompanies that grief?
The holidays are one of the hardest times of the year for many people. Anxiety and restlessness grow as we try to meet expectations, manage responsibilities, and fill voids. We feel loss of any kind much deeper, and we are weary. Our emotional tank is empty, and that won't take us far.
But God is still on the throne. We don't have to do it all on our own. It starts with how we think.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
We don't have to understand Peace to have Peace. All we have to do is ask. God is ready to actively guard our hearts and minds against the enemy.
So as we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks and maybe deal with some difficult feelings, remember it can be well with your soul no matter what you are facing. Not because we are great at navigating our grief, but because the One who IS walks beside us every step of the way.
ACTIVATION: Consider reaching out to a mentor, pastor, or counselor to discuss healthy ways to begin processing your grief. Then when days are especially hard, remember these words that Pastor Michael Chandler shared from the Holy Spirit in a message a few Christmas seasons ago:
"Child, I love you, and I'm never ashamed by you or the questions you have. I'm ok with where you are. I'm patient. I'm not in a hurry. I'm close to the brokenhearted. I am with you."
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