PEACE THROUGH THE DARKEST SEASONS
We have just been through a dark season in our lives. The flu hit my family hard this past month and we are finally coming out of it. Where is peace when pain and fever rack our bodies? How do we find peace through the darkest seasons?
With all the unrest in our country right now and strong, differing opinions, how can we live peacefully? Where do we start?
If we look at our circumstances and try to find it we will be disappointed. Can we find a peaceful existence through what this world can offer? Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes peace. Jesus offers us something different.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
I can’t really explain it, but my heart is at peace knowing that God is still the Creator and Sustainer of our lives. Some people will not agree with me, and I understand that. All I can do is share from my own experience.
NATURE INVOKES A SENSE OF PEACE
When the weather is warm I love to be outside to sit and contemplate. For me being out in nature, enjoying creation invokes a desire to worship and praise my God. It also helps to calm my spirit and give a sense of peace.
Today I have been hard at work with another poem. I created it from the words I found at the online website of Magnetic Poetry. Again I used the nature kit, because I’m always drawn to nature.
Peace Through Dark Times
Air at dawn wild and wet
Daffodil beneath a fresh moist blanket
Rose quietly out of the earth
Warmed by spring sunshine
I will grow through dark seasons
Wander the soft verdant forest path
in a beautiful sacred sanctuary
My soul, a garden of peace
~gayl wright
My prayer is that you, too, will find the peace that only God can give. This kind of peace gives us hope.
Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
I‘m linking up with #Glimpses, #LMMLinkup, #TeaAndWord, #RaRaLinkup, #TestimonyTuesday, #TellHisStory
This is so beautiful Gayl! I love this process of worship and contemplation you have shared… grateful for His peace and for the Truth that He is always in control.
Blessings!
Dawn
Thank you, Dawn! Yes, he is our hope and peace!
Blessings to you and thanks for visiting!
I love your poems. And your words bring such encouragement and an little bit of anxiety because i keep seeing stuff about God being with me in hard times. I hope nothing to hard is on the horizon, but at least I know God is with me.
Thank you, Amanda! I’m glad you like my poetry. 🙂 I’m also glad to bring some encouragement and hope that overcomes the anxiety. I’m thankful God is with us through the hard and the easy times.
Blessings to you! Thank you for visiting and commenting. 🙂
Your poem is stunningly beautiful. Thank you for sharing that gift. Your words about peace hit home with me today. I sense the unrest in our world and it weighs on me. I wrote about it today too. Our answer is Jesus and when I say that I know you understand but it seems so easy. I pray we seek peace where peace is truly found.
Oh, Mary, thank you so much! I really appreciate your encouragement.
Yes, I do understand our answer is Jesus. It does sound easy, but we know how hard it can be to trust when feeling overwhelmed. I’m so thankful that He sticks with us and takes us through the hard times with peace that only He can give.
Blessings to you, dear Mary! xo
Gayl, these are such beautiful and reassuring words! I love how you bring God’s Nature into your pictures, and point it all back to HIS Peace and HIS Working. It’s so to remember that this is His World, not man’s. I look forward to the hopeful blooms of spring time also! Blessings and Hugs to you! xoxo
Thank you, dear Bettie! There is just something about the beauty of nature that really draws me to it. And I can’t help but point back to Him!
Many blessings and hugs to you, too! xoxo
I love your poem and your thoughts, Gayl. It’s so troubling what is happening in our country. I keep reminding myself that God is still King. Nature always calms me, too. It reminds me that God is still in control. Your poem is so hope-filled. That daffodil pushing its way through because of the warm sun gives me such a comfort that as you say, we will grow in the darkness. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Trudy! Current events are troubling, but God is still the boss. He will accomplish His purposes no matter what and we can trust that He will do what is best.
I’m glad you find the poem hope-filled, because that was one of my hopes for it. I’m pleased that you find comfort here in knowing that we will still grow in the darkness, because He is with us.
Blessings to you!
Nothing better than the peace of God – thank you, Gayl.
Amen, Sue! His peace is lasting and full of hope.
Blessings to you!
That image of our souls being a garden of peace — beautiful! And I’m thankful that this is true and infinitely possible no matter what the circumstances.
So sorry that your family has been struggling with sickness. It’s good to be hearing from you today!
Thank you so much, Michele! I do appreciate your comments and encouragement. It’s good to have you visit today. 🙂
Many blessings to you!
Gayl,
Love how you point us to the true source of peace 🙂
Also like this imagery from your poem: “Daffodil beneath a fresh moist blanket..” a hopeful image!
Dolly,
Thank you so much for stopping by and lending your encouragement. Yes, Jesus is our true peace who will never fail.
Daffodils are some of my favorite flowers. The bright yellow bloom is one of the first of the spring here in SC.
Blessings to you!
I am always touched by your poetry. This line, “I will grow through dark seasons”, I love it. And it’s so true. It’s in those times where we grow the most. Thank you for the encouragement you continually offer here.
Thank you, Barbie, for your sweet encouragement. It is true that we seem to grow the most in the dark times. I think it’s because we are forced to see that we are not in control and Jesus is the only One we can run to who can help.
Blessings to you, dear sister! xo
That John verse always brings such comfort.
Yes, Tara, for me, too. Blessings to you!
I love to contemplate in nature, too, even if it’s just in my own backyard. Thanks for linking up with Literacy Musing Mondays!
Thanks for visiting, Brandi! Yes, nature is so vast and beautiful. 🙂
Blessings to you!
I love this poem, Gayl! It is soothing! I read it out loud (I do that with flowy words lol). You are right and blessed to hold onto His peace. I agree and am pulling away from personal social media and focusing on my blog ones when I have time. When I remain in prayer while tending to my home and kids without focusing on things in the world that are out of my hands, I experience this peace all the more. It’s not that I am ignoring it (I am praying!) but just choosing not to focus on it.
Last week I made the mistake of focusing on all of it though and I shared some stuff only because I was concerned about people, and then I shared something because I was legitimately hopeful about leaders…but it feels no matter which way I go people aren’t pleased (hence the need for me to stop trying to) and I need to just leave it in God’s hands.
So in a nutshell, amen! You said it well and I am glad you are in my life, Gayl! I look forward to more poetry from you if God leads you that way. 🙂
” It’s not that I am ignoring it (I am praying!) but just choosing not to focus on it.” I like that, Meghan. I do that sometimes, too. Sometimes it just gets to be too much to read it constantly, but praying is the best thing we can do.
It’s so hard when we want to share things and then it seems like nobody is pleased or understands. But you’re right, the solution is to leave it in God’s hands. He will accomplish His purposes.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments. I’m glad you enjoy the poetry. It seems I’ve been writing a lot of poetry lately, but it’s something I really enjoy. 🙂
I’m glad you’re in my life, too, Meghan! Many blessings to you! Love and hugs!! xo
Beautiful words on peace today, Gayl. I’m glad you and your tribe and feeling better. Blessings on your weekend.
Thank you, June! I’m glad you stopped by.
Blessings to you and have a lovely weekend!