“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
The kind of peace that the Lord gives us is like no other. It is not the peace that the world can give us, but a peace of understanding, a peace of contentment, and a peace that grants us hope. When we turn our eyes to Jesus we are allowing the storms of this world to subside and the peace of God to take over. We are letting go of our fears and turning our focus to our hope in Jesus Christ.
I ask you today to reflect on what you fear most. Make a list and read over each one. Is there anything on that list that God cannot conquer?
To give you an example, I’ll share a part of my list with you. (Believe it or not, leaders have fears as well)
I fear…
- Something happening to one of my children or them rebelling against God
- Losing loved ones – especially those that don’t know Christ
- The future – the unknown
- Not doing enough for God
- Things that I cannot control
The list could go on and on but as one of my favorite songs says “My fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love.” (Josh Baldwin)
Each fear on my list can be solved with scripture.
Losing a loved one that is saved means that they are no longer struggling in this world, they are rejoicing in Heaven.
“but we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
When my Papa died, I was extremely sad but I can say with confidence that my papa, suffering and not knowing the ones he loved most, having lived a life devoted to the Lord, would much rather be absent from his body and at home with the Lord on the day he breathed his last that continuing the life he had left on earth. He left this world to be where he belonged, with his Heavenly Father.
As for my fears for my children and the things I cannot control, I must have faith that the Lord is in control of all things. There is nothing that I can do in comparison to God.
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
My job is to raise my children in a Christian home and show them the love of Christ every day. The Lord will guide them the rest of the way. My trust has to remain in Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
When the future starts to worry me it’s because I’ve become too focused on self and not focused on God. When I turn my eyes to the Lord and away from the struggles of this world, I’m reminded that my hope is in Him and He has already overcome the world.
“These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trials and sorrow, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
All your fears, all your sorrows, and all your pain that you are facing today, can all be taken away by finding peace in the Lord.
Turn your eyes to Him today and allow Him to give peace you’ve never known.
May God bless you and show you His grace every day!
Kayla Rampey
Empowered Jesus Girl Teen Conference coming soon!
Don’t forget we are having the Empowered Jesus Girl Teen Conference on Friday, February 26th at 7pm! This will be a virtual event livestreamed on East Pickens Baptist Church’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Simply search East Pickens Baptist Church on YouTube on Feb 26 at 7pm and you will be able to see the event LIVE. We will have the livestream up a little early to give you plenty of time to join! Taylor and Reid Hawkins will lead in worship followed by a message by Kayla Rampey on “Salvation through Isolation” finding God when He seems nowhere near.
Get your girls together and enjoy a night of praise and worship from your own living room, church, or wherever you can! We may be virtual but we want you there with us as we worship our Lord together!
Send your group pictures to Kayla@EmpoweredJesusGirl.com for a chance to win a grand prize!
