{"id":27800,"date":"2020-03-20T03:30:23","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T10:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=27800"},"modified":"2020-03-13T12:24:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T19:24:34","slug":"march-20-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2020\/03\/20\/march-20-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"March 20, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” <\/em>Isaiah 55:12<\/p>\n

Led Forth in Peace<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I would imagine that you are like me and millions of others around the world in trying to figure out how to respond to the coronavirus outbreak that is rapidly spreading.\u00a0Floyd and I are both in the “vulnerable” category because of our age and our lowered immune systems. I’m washing my hands all the time, using hand sanitizer, trying not to touch my face, and just being generally cautious and careful.\u00a0But, most importantly, I’m praying.<\/p>\n

Regardless of what happens, we are ultimately in God’s hands.\u00a0He is sovereign over us. He is watching out for us.\u00a0He is with us.\u00a0He holds us in the palm of His hands.<\/p>\n

I observe people reacting is a variety of ways\u2014from denial to panic and everything in between.\u00a0I’ve concluded that we need to do what practical things we can, and then rest in His care.\u00a0The word that keeps coming to my heart is peace.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am so grateful for the peace that God gives\u2014a peace that “passes understanding.” I couldn’t have survived the last few years without His peace.\u00a0I can’t even count how many uncertain, stressful, overwhelming moments I have faced where I couldn’t have made it through if He hadn’t washed over me with His precious peace.\u00a0There is absolutely nothing that compares to the deep peace that His Spirit brings.<\/p>\n

The peace of the Lord brings calmness to our spirit.\u00a0It brings rest, understanding, and fresh courage.\u00a0It brings comfort, and helps us be content in the midst of whatever trial and stress we are walking through.\u00a0It lifts the heaviness of the moment. His peace “carries” us.\u00a0It brings a deep sense of security.<\/p>\n

I remember an experience in the early days of Floyd getting sick.\u00a0The doctors had given me such dire reports. It had been a long, difficult, emotional day. I was driving home alone in the rain\u2014and crying my eyes out.\u00a0I wasn’t sure which was heavier\u2014the rain or my tears.\u00a0I was trying to concentrate on the road as I drove over a mountain pass in the heavy rain.\u00a0I felt utterly heavy-hearted and alone without Floyd by my side.<\/p>\n

I can’t quite explain it, but suddenly a wave of peace hit me.\u00a0It almost felt physical because it was so real.\u00a0The tears stopped, and an intense joy filled my soul.\u00a0I spontaneously burst out into singing worship and praise to the Lord\u2014I couldn’t hold it back. And as I drove over the mountain and out of the rain, there was a rainbow.\u00a0I actually started laughing because it was so dramatic and unexpected.<\/p>\n

That experience was a turning point for me.\u00a0I’ve had many more hard moments, but from that day onward I have felt carried by a solid foundation of His peace.\u00a0When I hit a rough spot, I immediately call out for His peace and it comes rushing in.\u00a0I think God wanted to show me clearly on that rainy mountain drive that He would help me and be with me whatever I had to face.<\/p>\n

As I face the events unfolding around me now, and the ongoing trials and uncertainty of our personal situation, I call out afresh for His wonderful, never-failing, unending peace.\u00a0He is faithful to wash over me with His Spirit of peace.<\/p>\n

Father, thank You for bringing peace in the midst of our turmoil. How abundantly faithful You are!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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