Our Strength and Place of Peace

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. – (Psalm 29:11, NIV)

May the Lord make His people strong. May the Lord bless His people with peace. – (Psalm 29:11, ERV)

God makes His people strong. God gives His people peace. – (Psalm 29:11, MSG)

After a wonderful whirlwind of a week away, today we will embark on our journey home. Our travels will begin this afternoon, and we will arrive home in the early hours of the morning tomorrow. Strength and peace are both things that we will need as we make our way home. God is good, and He provides His goodness and grace as we seek Him. May we ever trust in the Lord to be our strength and peace, and extend the same to all those whom we encounter throughout our days.

The Lord is our strength,

And our place of peace;

Ever He’s with us,

As grace He’ll release.

He leads us each day,

When we choose to seek;

Grants all that we need,

His love is complete.

Show us Your goodness,

Lead us by Your grace;

Help us to love all,

And walk in Your ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strength and our peace. Thank You that in all things and at all times, You are present to help. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our circumstances to steal our peace. Teach us to trust in You and rely on You to provide the strength we need and be our peace. Show us how to love those around us in ways that extend peace and strength. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to supply us with the strength we need and to be our peace at all times. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:8

Help In All

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. – (Psalm 46:1, NIV) 

God is our protection and source of strength. He is always ready to help us in times of trouble. – (Psalm 46:1, ERV) 

God, You are such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in times of trouble – more than enough and always available whenever I need You. – (Psalm 46:1, TPT) 

In this extraordinarily long season, I think everyone needs a space of refuge and strength, and help in these troubling times. For some, it is for provision; for others, companionship; still others, for help and protections and strength. Whatever the need, God is able to provide in abundance. The hardest part is that it seems like we are stuck in a space of waiting. Often, it is in our waiting, that God grows us the most and helps us in ways that we cannot always see. For the upcoming school year, I feel as if I am in a holding pattern of “wait and see” to know and understand what the expectations and format will look like. I am not a fan of feeling ill-prepared, yet it is difficult to prepare for the unknown. All I can do is seek the Lord and choose to read all that I can to make certain that my heart is ready, even if my mind does not yet know the details. As for my Mom, she too is trusting God to be her refuge, strength and help, as she waits and prepares for next steps. She is more than ready to be back in her own home, but knows that details must first be aligned, before it is safe for her to return. God is faithful to grant her strength and resolve, even on the longest and most mundane of days. In all circumstances, God is more than enough. May we ever seek the Lord to be our refuge and strength, and to be our help, no matter our need.  

There’s no other place, 

In the same way this sweet pup seeks and finds refuge in our arms, we can do the same with Christ. ❤

That I’d like to be; 

Than when I am safe, 

With God, who holds me. 

He is my comfort, 

When all is unknown; 

My safe Provider, 

Whose love’s always shown. 

Shown as He grants grace, 

And keeps my heart safe; 

He loves as He guides, 

Even on dark days. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that even when we cannot feel it, You are working. Thank You that You are our space of refuge and comfort, and You provide for our every need. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when the wait seems long. Teach us to trust You more, as You are always good. Show us how to love those around us well, and help us to provide safety and peace and provision as You call us to do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for how You love us so well. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:8

Place of Safety

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. – (Psalm 62:8, NIV)

People, always put your trust in God! Tell Him all your problems. God is our place of safety. – (Psalm 62:8, ERV)

Join me, everyone! Trust only in God every moment! Tell Him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to Him. Believe me when I tell you – He will help you! Pause in His presence. – (Psalm 62:8, TPT)

 

We really are in a space of having no choice but to trust in Him. With the daily tolls climbing of those affected by COVID-19, and the increasing impact it is having on medical system, our economy, and families, it is a space where people either panic or choose to trust. God is a great listener. He hears all that we have to say. No question is too small nor too great, and He is not offended by our lack of understanding. God is our safe space, waiting with open arms to embrace us in our moments of fear, frustration or disbelief. For me, the greatest struggle is having to stay at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love my people who make our house a home; it is the wanderlust in me that has this constant desire to be out moving and doing and exploring. My one escape each day is to run, but that is severely out of balance in relationship to the number of hours I find myself seated on the couch, attempting to make sense of my job and how to function digitally. Please do not misunderstand, for I am immensely grateful that I am among the gainfully employed. Rather, it is a struggle to shift from continually moving around my classroom, and walking about campus, to spending so much time indoors. There is a learning curve, and I am adapting, it just takes time and trust and prayer. What I realize more than ever, is the countless reasons that I do have to express gratitude. Even from indoors, I can see trees surrounding us out each window. When I head outside and walk, I do not need to go far to see cherry blossoms blooming, daffodils cheerfully greeting walkways, and not far off, I can catch glimpses of the Puget Sound. Additionally, when I go further, the snow-capped Cascades rise over the water. If I head a different direction to run, I am greeted by the glorious glaciers gleaming in the early morning light a top Mt. Rainier. Beauty is everywhere, and this is our opportunity to truly take it all in. As we close out our week, may we pause in His presence and share our hearts with He who holds us in the hollow of His hands. God is good, and His love for us knows no end.

 

Choose trust in the Lord, wp-15853196753706820299063856330854.jpg

Share your heart with Him;

He’s present to help,

As we let Him in.

Our place of safety,

When troubles surround;

Peace in the chaos,

Where life and love’s found.

Lean into Jesus,

He always is near;

Ready to listen,

Each heart cry He’ll hear.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are certain, even when all around us is not. Thank You that we can trust in You and depend on You to be our space of safety and the One to whom we can say anything that is on our heart. Thank You that You are bigger than our fears, frustrations and doubts. Forgive us for our restlessness as we adjust to a new normal. Show us how to call on You and depend on You to be our safety, our comfort and our companion. Teach us how to love those around us well, even though it will look different, Your heart can be conveyed through kindness, encouragement and support as we offer what we have to give. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to be our safety, our confidante and the One who hears our every heart cry as we wait out this storm, loving people well. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. – Psalm 32:7