Well Hello Blog followers!
My apologies for not posting this sooner, things have been a little busy in the Vanover home :) If you haven't heard yet I've given birth to my son little Maddox Cross. He is everything I could have dreamed of, he has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives.
Besides being a busy wife & mommy of 2 for the past 3 weeks, I also discovered during this time that I am worlds worst at adjusting to sudden change. If you know me you know I am typically an open book for all to read, and someone once told me that others can only learn from our openess...well I've thought about that many times and I think they are right-- So here's to being open.
Since having my son there have been a lot of quick changes going on in our lives. Some good, some.... Well it's just going to take some time to get used to sort of thing. God knows me best, better than I know myself and because of that He is always finding ways to help me grow, mature and learn. He never wants us to become idle, but rather always looking to perfect us in our walk and well He has found yet another thing in me that needed a little refining. This time it was..
Peace.
What is peace? An interal calmness? A sense of relaxation? According to the web it was defined as the state of prevailing during the absence of war and the absence of mental stress/anxiety. So wait a second webster! Does this mean we have no hope during a season of war or when life brings us stress? As petty as these small changes are, they did bring a certain level of stress to me simply because I am a more of a routine friendly type girl. Nonetheless, I found myself feeling so restless, so uneasy, very much opposite of the word peace..so as I soaked in the tub one evening recently I said, "God, you are the supreme definition of peace, let that peace you give rule in my heart always--do not let doubt, fear of the unknown or discouragment rule my heart, but only your peace." And that was it, I stepped out of that bath feeling a million times better knowing that I don't have to deal with anything alone, I don't have to be stressed or wish I could change something-- with God I can actually have peace DURING my battles, all I had to do was ask for it. John 14:27 says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
What I gathered from this scripture was even though the definitions stated there had to be an absence of war or stress to have peace; I believe it just takes the knowledge & presence of God to obtain it. God is right in this world we will have trouble, but when those troubles come how do we react? Are our hearts troubled, do we become fearful and full of doubt? I learned to do none of the above, A) because His word says to NOT be or do any of those and B) because He promises that instead we can turn to Him for a deposit of peace. What a wonderful, amazing God! Isaiah 26:3 says "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." All we have to do is excerise our trust. In essence peace is a choice, you have to make a choice to trust God daily and if we can trust God then we can trust He will give us the peace He promises.....
but also promise yourself to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart<3
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Love,
Est
