Originally published Wednesday, 11 February 2015.
The house is quiet. Everyone is sleeping and the only sound is the tap, tap, tap of my keyboard as I write to you. It’s been quite a day. I spent much of it praying for people who are enduring tragedy – the kind I know all too well. Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens. I’ve done that. And I have my own…
I picked up my kids a little early from school for dental appointments. On the way, we stopped by my mother’s. I haven’t gone into her house in months. I just can’t. As we pulled on to her street my son Sammy said, “This makes me think of papa.” After that, he turned his head and stared out the window as tears silently rolled down his cheeks. He is six years old.
What mother can stand to watch her child grieve? My heart tore all over again.
When sorrow overwhelms, I try to reflect on something in the word of God that will stir hope. I was reminded of words from Peter, “Looking forward to these things…” I couldn’t remember the exact phraseology that came before or after, but those five words continued to play on repeat throughout my mind.
So tonight when the house settled, I went to 2 Peter chapter 3 and read…
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
-2 Peter 3:8-9
The Lord waits for us. He holds us close, longing for each heart to soften to His call and fulfill His purpose. He made a beautiful promise concerning His return, and in His time He will keep it. I continued to read down through several verses as Peter continues to talk about the coming of the Lord and the new heaven and earth. He then says this:
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless…
-2 Peter3:14
And there is my hope for the day. The words looking forward indicates we must stay focused on the truth of His promises, which are wrapped in love. Peter is working to convey that the promise of eternal rescue will come to fruition, and we must keep our eyes fixed on the prize: Jesus.
And then I breathe a deep sigh of relief when he says, “… be diligent to be found by Him in peace.”
Oh, friends, I want to be found in peace. I want to have peace between myself and the living God. I want to live in the center of His will, even when it hurts, that I might find peace and dwell there.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
-Psalm 91:1
And every hurting heart sings a sacred amen.
Love,
Jennifer
To find out about my book, Nothing to Hold but Hope, click here.
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