Can We Have Peace in the Mess?

Right now I am in the middle of a mess! Last week I tripped and fell forward onto both hands/wrists and cracked the radius bone in my right arm. The good news is that because the bone is cracked instead of completely broken, I won't need surgery! Yay!! The not-so-good-news is that I am right-handed. In 2nd grade, I wanted to be able to write with my left hand, but it didn't happen. So now I have my chance; however I'll have to admit that I do love the voice typing feature on my phone & laptop!

Knowing my circumstances, a dear friend shared the devotional "Peace in the Eye of the Storm" (Written by Sheila Walsh for Devotionals Daily featuring her book

In the Middle of the Mess.)

"Personal storms can move in with lightning speed and devastate the landscape of our hearts and we never saw them coming."

Yup!! That about sums it up for me. What about you? Isn't this the way it happens? Our lives - from dressing, eating, brushing teeth to driving, doing yard work, or taking notes at a meeting - have all been affected and changed in some way by this storm which blew in out of nowhere. It's not life as usual any more.

But she continues: "Peace is not the absence of trouble. It is the presence of Christ."

She asked the question: “Lord, how do we live in the peace You promised when there are storms all around us? Her scriptural answer is from Jesus:

Peace of mind and heart. Peace that is only found in Christ."

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. — John 16:33 NLT"

"...if it’s a promise from Christ then it is true in the best days of life and the worst, for the richest and the poorest among us. If you find yourself in the middle of a mess right now Christ wants to speak peace to you. Many things in life are a mystery to me but this one thing I know for sure, God is for you. He sees you, knows you and loves you. "

It was 2 years ago plus 1 week that I stepped into a grass-covered hole and broke the lower parts of my tibia and fibula bones in my right leg. My treatment was elevating my leg for 7 weeks. Friends were concerned about my physical and mental health for that long period of time! Now this! Today I received a longer splint (instead of a cast) which encompasses the elbow and will likely wear it or some shorter version for about 6 weeks.

I will follow the dr's orders, but I also choose to follow the promise of Christ when He told us He was giving us His Peace which is not like the peace we talk about in this world. Let us all remember and focus on what peace really is. It should become our foundation for weathering and fighting the storms and messes in our lives.

I can't say with what frequency I'll be writing while my hand is in this cast. I'll just continue to let God direct that for me.

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel