“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)This semester has been one of the hardest of my life. I am not sure why, and I do not think most people know. Apparently, it is actually one of the easiest semesters of my college career. But I have been struggling with so many things inwardly, especially physical pain from a yet-to-be diagnosed health condition. More than ever, I have the realization that I cannot make it any more.
One day walking to school, the Lord brought those verses to mind. Actually, I only remembered “the peace that surpasses every man’s understanding,” but I knew that that was what I wanted. I looked up the verses, and I was so encouraged! That first day as I opened to Him and shared with Him my burdens, I was enveloped in His arms and He reached with His peace. He filled me with Himself and strengthened me to go on through the day.
There is so something so precious in that experience and the many that have followed. Each day presents its own trials, but I am learning to turn away from all the situations and look away to Jesus who meets me where I am. By letting go and confessing how inadequate I am, I have begun to acknowledge that I have no control over my life and to allow Him as the sovereign One to rule in my life. He is teaching me to cry out to Him and depend on Him as my source. As I lean on Him and learn to allow Him to lead me on my Christian journey, He fills me with His peace that no man can understand.
Now, I can thank Him for His marvelous work in the past few months. It all seems so awesome how He arranges our life so that we can know Him in a deeper and fuller way. Though the way is still hard, I know that He is near, caring for me. As I continue to seek Him, I pray that I would not miss Him in any part of my daily living.
