Seeking Peace

Lately there have been so many hard deaths to have to deal with. The latest one was one of the hard ones, the one where I struggle and try to grasp at anything to tell me why. Why did this have to happen? I just do not understand. I want to understand so that the loss won’t sting as much. To see people you love have to endure so much pain is gut wrenching. I had a restless sleep last night because I just couldn’t quit thinking. It is hard to know that we will never fully understand because we were not made to. Things like this that happen test our faith in so many ways. It disrupts the peace within our hearts.

Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when His glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. 1 Peter 4: 12-13

The Catholic Bible, Personal Study Edition. Oxford University Press, 2007.

Trusting in the unknown is hard at times because God has told us that we will not come out of this world unscathed. The fear that lurks in the unknown can be terrifying. When these kind of trials come it is so hard to bare the scars they will forever leave. It’s in these moments that the enemy is all too real. He has his sly ways of slipping into your thoughts and uses these wounds to turn you away from our creator. It is so hard in these times to not start to question everything. I think of Mary and watching her son be persecuted and all that he had to suffer for us to live. Then there is Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers. There is the beautiful story of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi had suffered so much loss in her life, and the godly love that Ruth showed to Naomi is one of the most beautiful stories to read. After all the sufferings that Naomi had to endure, she stayed faithful and the goodness that He gave was fruitful. They struggled, they were angry and in some cases became bitter for a period, but even through all of the different trials that each of them suffered they didn’t lose sight of God’s light.

Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail, and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31-32

The Catholic Bible, Personal Study Edition. Oxford University Press, 2007.

We can be angry, we cannot understand, but we cannot allow the enemy in to steal our faith. Something that Hannah Brencher said in my bible study struck a chord with my heart, “Satan wouldn’t demand to have you if he was not shaken by you.” This is powerful to me. When we are close to Him he fights so much harder for our souls. These times call for us to fight, and, when you are in a valley like this, this fight will break you down but He will remake you so that you can go back and strengthen your brothers and sisters. Put your armor on and fight with everything you have. The armor I am talking about is His word and His wisdom because that is the only thing that will save you. That is the only thing that will hold you in the dark times.

We have to stop trying to understand and instead seek peace. We have to trust that where He is taking us is more beautiful, and we will be stronger because of how He loves us. This may take months, years even, but do not lose sight of Him. Become immersed in His word and when you do you will begin to see how deep His love for us goes. God sent His one and only son to die for us. There isn’t a love deeper than that. I write this as an encouragement to myself too. Hold tight sweet friend “that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7.

XOXO