Being Still in the Middle of Chaos

            Today, we have the world at our fingertips and that comes at a price.

            We’re constantly in motion and bombarded with news stories, such as the shootings that happened in Chicago, Kenya, and D.C. this past week or all the latest info on what happening in Hollywood (even if we don’t want to hear it). Not only do we have access to knowledge about everything that’s going on in our world, we have phones that keep us connected to people 24/7. Everything from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram to Tumbler allows us to tell others about our lives and read about others’ at lightning speed. Now, I not only get assignments during class at my school, I also get them by email on the weekends and my boss emails me, too.

            In addition to staying in touch with the world news and the various people in our life (or at least “friends” on social media sites), we have the ability to listen to music no matter where we go and not to mention the wide variety of TV shows right at our fingertips.

            My point is that with so much “stuff” going on in our lives it’s easy to get distracted from what’s important. It’s easy to run through our days without noticing the elderly lady who’s lonely or in need of help crossing the road. It’s easy to forget to spend actual time with the people who are with us in the flesh. It’s so easy to not even realize that the sky was crystal clear today because we constantly go and we’re hardly ever 

still. We hardly ever rest, and this constant motion many times keeps us from the life source:

            God.

            Our God, our refuge in the storm, in the chaos, in the everyday rushes of life, wants us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

            He is still God. The never changing One who is the Great I am. He is the One who never changes, who sustains life, forgives, loves, and brings justice.

            For all that He has done for us, He deserves to be recognized everyday as we’re still before Him and acknowledge that there was never and never will be any God beside Him.

            He is the One who was and is and is to come (Rev. 4:8).

            Be still today and know Him. Know that He is still God even when we fail to be still before Him. He never fails and never changes. He knows you and longs to be known. 

Living Life Together,

Rebecca A. Thomas 

Freedom in Waiting

            I used to think waiting was torture. Don’t get me wrong; I consider myself a patient person overall, but as I mentioned before, I want to know what’s going to happen next—now.

            Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that God doesn’t work that way. Yes, sometimes He does answer prayers immediately, but oftentimes, He does not, for His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not 

our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

            Recently, I’ve been seeking wisdom on which way to step in my life, and the answers are not entirely clear. All I can do is wait, wait, and wait some more. But, I feel like I’ve been doing that for so long now, and so I fought the waiting. In my own strength I’ve searched high and low for answers, just a glimmer of a solid pathway with my name on it.

            However, I usually found a road block or felt so out of step with my Creator, so I had to fall to my knees and let Him start over. You know that recalculating phrase that a GPS repeats over and over again? Well, I know over my four years of college, God did that. I changed my major twice, but I finally found where God wanted me, and I realized that recalculating period where I had to wait wasn’t a waste of gas or time. I learned a lot from those times of waiting, but waiting was still hard—is still hard.

            That period of waiting has resurfaced in my life, but God is teaching me a lesson: waiting on God doesn’t lead to frustration or pain or uncertainty. Waiting on God is living in freedom because when has God ever failed? Never.

            God knows the plans He has for you (Jer. 29:11), which means you don’t have to know them. He promises to work everything out for good in your life (Romans 8:28), and when has He ever failed to come through on a promise?

            God tells us not to lean on our own understanding, and I understand why a little better. Not only is our understanding flawed, but it traps us and clouds our lives with worry and chaos. His understanding is so much better than ours. Think about it: He is omniscient and lives outside of time, which means He probably has a better grasp on the future and how to work my life out that I do, and living in that knowledge is freeing.

            I don’t have to have it all together because He does.

            I don’t need all the wisdom of the world because He is the author of wisdom.

I don’t have to have life figured out because He does.  

            Today, let go of your worries. Cut the strings of control you may have on your life and free fall into the arms of Grace.

I promise that freedom is found in resting in Him.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas

Steadfast Peace

            Sometimes, life can really stress you out. 

            Maybe tomorrow seems uncertain or a person in your family is sick or some circumstance has you worried. Whatever is going on, the fact is that we all have troubles, even Jesus agreed with that (John 16:33). But when we face these troubles, we have a choice about how we’re going to react and who we’re going to trust. 

            Many times when I face uncertainties or stressful circumstances, I first try to figure out a solution on my own or I pray and then instead of relying on God for the answer, I rack my brain for the much needed wisdom. The problem with that way of fixing a problem is that I’m not equipped to figure things out on my own—I need a Savior. 

            When I realize that I am not fully equipped, my mind starts churning and most nights, I have trouble sleeping. My life is chaotic—the opposite of peaceful. 

            The truth is that when we don’t rely on Jesus, we will stumble and our lives will be full of chaos and uneasiness, but life doesn’t have to be this way; we can have peace. 

            Isaiah 26:3 declares that God “will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in [God]” (NIV). The key to having peace is trusting in God. When storms arise, remind yourself of the truth: God provides (1 Timothy 6:17), we are loved (John 3:16), He is our refuge and shield (Psalm 119:114), we will never be alone (Hebrews 13:5), and He is our strength (Philippians 4:13). Those truths are just a few of the promises God has given us that we can trust God for. I challenge you to mine through God’s Word for yourself and discover that numerable promises God has for us. 

            When we trust in the Lord, He gives us peace, even that is a promise. One of my favorite passages is Isaiah 40:30-31, which reminds us that “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

            Today, whatever you’re facing, trust our faithful God. Even if you have to say His name over and over or repeat biblical truths in your mind until you remember to trust Him, do so because we desperately need Him.

He is the only one who can give you peace. 

Living Life Together, 

Rebecca Thomas

For Days You Need Encouragement

           Today, I just wanted to share with you some scripture that tells us about our Father and what He does for us and who He is. The other week I came across a post on Pinterest with many of the verses listed below. Whenever you’re down, remember who God is and what He does for you.

            My Father. . .

1.    Loves me: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16

2.      Cares for me: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” –Matthew 6:26

3.      Forgives me: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” –Psalm 103:12

4.      Is giving:  “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” –Romans 8:32

5.      Satisfies: “for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” –Psalm 107:9

6.      Persistently pursues me: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” –Luke 19:10

7.      Gives me wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” –James 1:5

8.      Carries my burdens: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you WILL find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

9.      Gives me peace: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." –Isaiah 26:3

      10.  Fights for me: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” –Exodus 14:14

11.   Heals and forgives me: “But he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” –Isaiah 53:5

12.    Knows me completely: You have searched me, Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” –Psalm 139: 1-4

Today, I hope you remember that God loves you and is constantly with you, protecting you, offering forgiveness, love, peace, wisdom, and strength.

Living Life Together,

Rebecca Thomas