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by Sherry Chamblee

I have always found one of my most difficult trials to be when my home situation is in flux again. So whenever we’ve moved, I’ve felt that instability as abject terror. It’s something deeper than just worry and stress from changing schedules and changing environments. It comes from a fear that I won’t have anywhere to go – that something will fall through and we’ll be left abandoned and alone on the side of a road somewhere.  

I’ve had this come up in my life over and over again, and I’ve struggled to not meet it with fear and let that fear rule me. I’ve often given in to panic, tried to micromanage each situation, and gotten short with my family throughout the process.

Well I find myself in that situation once again. The future is unsure, I can’t see the next thing coming right now, but I can hear it like a train in the night bearing down on us.  

Yet this time … this time I want to trust God without reservation. I want to stand still, hearing the noise of something coming, and yet know that God has this and all will be exactly as He wishes – no matter what that is. I far too often make resolutions silently, in my heart, without stating them out loud. But not this time. This time I will speak it out that I will trust God. I will write it down that I will trust God. I will spread it abroad to anyone who listens that I will trust God in this matter.

I cannot see His plan right now, but I can see His heart, and God’s heart is to only do us good and not evil all of our days. Whatever His good looks like, I can and will rest assured that it will be for His glory, and not for His dishonor.

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Not only is God thinking of me, paying attention to me, but He also has thoughts toward me. Think of that difference for a second. Isn’t that more than wonderful? He thinks of you and me as individuals and He has thoughts directed toward us as persons. As individuals. And those thoughts are of peace, not evil. God is not plotting evil things to do to us, to me, but He is plotting out ways to bring peace between us. He has peaceful thoughts about me. About you too.  

And He will be my expected end. He will bring it to pass, whatever His plan is, it will be His doing and it will be glorious. 

Why should I expect a life of ease? That’s not right. Why should I panic and fear, trying to manage everything for my own greatest comfort? That’s not right. The peace of God is above physical stress, physical discomfort, and even physical pain.  

God’s peace transcends all of that, and it is this peace that guides His thoughts about me and you. 

So today, when you’re faced with something that you’ve always struggled with, turn to God and tell Him you WILL be standing with Him – you WILL trust Him – you WILL purposely see His hand in whatever comes to pass, and you will trust His Heart that He has thoughts of peace towards you.

About the Author:

Sherry grew up in various cities around northern and central California. This gave her all sorts of stories that sat and festered in her brain, waiting to be let loose. She eventually went to college in Wisconsin, where she met her equally frenetic husband, Rich. They have six (yes, count them) children, two dogs and a cat, and currently reside in a madhouse in the southern California area. As a family, they enjoy being active in their local church. Sherry spends her time writing when not caring for Granny, the kids, the dogs, the cat and any number of strays in the neighborhood.

Sherry Chamblee can be found at http://www.sherrychamblee.weebly.com Or check out her books at http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Chamblee/e/B00BA06RJ2/