Ever Present Peace

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – (John 16:33, NIV)

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” – (John 16:33, ERV)

“I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.” – (John 16:33, VOICE)

It is always fascinating to travel and take in new sights. That being said, there always seems to be a mix of witnessing the beauty of creation and the brokenness of humanity. For me, when I get to see the beauty of all that God’s hands have made, my heart knows His peace and His nearness. The same God who tells the sun when to set, is present to help us as we navigate each new day. As we ventured to Freemont to visit a favorite restaurant for a late lunch yesterday, we also witnessed many who were struggling with meeting their basic needs. I know not their situation or circumstances, but I do recognize their need. Witnessing such always sets my heart in conflict as I am overwhelmed by both gratitude for the blessings that I have been given, yet I grieve for those who find themselves in desperate spaces. My prayer is that each might come to know the care and compassion of God. May we ever seek the Lord for wisdom to recognize His goodness and to pour out His grace whenever we have the opportunity.

The glory of God,

is ever displayed;

as we look around,

we see His great ways.

The mountains were formed,

as He gave the word;

the sun lights beauty,

as our hearts are stirred.

Moved by the glory,

of all He has made;

with heart full of thanks,

as we seek His ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You remind us of Your goodness and grace as we witness Your glory through the beauty of creation. Thank You that Your peace is felt as we become aware of Your presence. Forgive us for the times that we allow the troubles of the world to overwhelm us. Thank You that You provide peace and rest when we need it most. Teach us to see Your nearness wherever we go, for the evidence of Your love is everywhere. Show us how to love those around us well so that Your heart is made known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we take in the beauty of all that Your hands have made and praise You for the peace of Your presence in all things and at all times. Amen.

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

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

God is… (Day 17 – A Miracle Worker)

You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples. – (Psalm 77:14, NIV)

You are the God who does amazing things. You showed the nations Your great power. – (Psalm 77:14, ERV)

You, God, and Your works evoke wonder. You have proved Your strength to the nations. – (Psalm 77:14, VOICE)

God is a miracle worker. It takes little time to look around in awe and wonder to recognize the miraculous found in the Divine. Life and light, health and hope, creation and the created – all are evidence of the miracles God does each day. His miracles are not limited to the few that are mentioned in the Bible, for they are found in all places throughout the ages. Yes, parting the sea, turning water into wine, raising the dead to life, and healings infirmities and illness were huge miracles that cannot be denied, yet the birth of a new baby, a heart transformed to love, and ways being made where the way seemed impossible, are all modern-day miracles we get to witness. God still works wonders, we simply have to be aware and listen to discover all that He is doing. In my life thus far, I cannot even count the miracles of God that I have witnessed. Two of my favorites are my twins. Born prematurely, the only challenge they had was that their lungs needed to develop. They were on oxygen for nearly five weeks, but they were able to be weaned from it within hours of each other, and I was able to bring them both home together. That alone, was miraculous, as there was a significant discrepancy in their size at birth. Both grew and thrived, and each are successfully navigating their way into adulthood. They are intelligent, kind, and loving, and are both thriving as they work to complete their college education so that they can pursue careers in areas of interest to them. I have seen God’s hand and His provision every step of the way. May we ever seek the Lord, our Miracle Worker, and trust that He will make the way for us to press on and do all that He is calling us to do.

Miracles abound,

throughout each new day;

our life, the sunrise,

how God makes the way.

Each day that we wake,

we witness His grace;

His touch all around,

as we walk His way.

How the sun rises,

and how the rain falls;

the birth of new life,

and strength to stand tall.

He still makes a way,

through impossible;

the Lord is greater,

our path crossable.

He changes our hearts,

to supple from stone;

where cold once was found,

He makes His warmth known.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the Miracle Worker that makes a way throughout our whole life. Thank You for the miracles all around us. Forgive us for the times that we lose our awe and wonder at who You are and all that You have done. Renew our sight so that we would recognize the miracles all around us every day, and give You thanks and praise for Your incredible and gracious ways. Show us how to love those around us well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the miracle of life and living, and give You thanks for all that You keep giving. Amen.

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

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” He said, “Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. – Matthew 9:22

God is… (Day 13 – My Hope)

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. – (Micah 7:7, NIV)

So I will look to the Lord for help. I will wait for God to save me. My God will hear me. – (Micah 7:7, ERV)

But as for me, I will look to the Eternal One, and my hope is in the True God who will save me. My God will hear me. – (Micah 7:7, VOICE)

For those of you who have been following the last few weeks, today’s line from the song that has been guiding my study of who “God is…”, is actually “My Hope in the shadows.” I love this, as shadows can often seem like they are a space where light is absent, yet in reality, it means that light is near. It is the way that God works too. Often in the spaces where life seems the darkest, God makes His presence overwhelmingly known, and we are assured of His nearness and that in and of itself, provides hope. His hope is the Light of the world. When we know God, we know that our situations and circumstances are temporary, yet our future is secure and our eternity will be better than anything that our minds can conceive. God is the hope that provides light in our darkness and shows us that our perceived darkness is merely a shadow, for He is near. God saves us from despair and grants us joy in spite of our circumstances. May we ever seek the Lord in all things, for He is our hope and the Light that illuminates every dark space we find ourselves in.

The Lord is my hope,

no matter what comes;

when in the shadows,

His work is not done.

As soon as we pause,

and look all around;

light and life are seen,

hope in Him is found.

For where there is God,

hope ever remains;

He dwells in our heart,

as love He proclaims.

Hope is the promise,

of all that will come;

so trust in the Lord,

may His will be done.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our hope in the shadows of life. Thank You that though things can appear dark, Your light and life, hope and help are near. Thank You that hope does not disappoint, for You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You that You are always good, even when our circumstances are not. Forgive us for fearing that the darkness will defeat us. Teach us to turn our eyes to You, for it is in You that we see and know light and life and love. Show us how to hold fast to hope in You, for You are the Truth, the Light, and the Way in all things. Lead us to love those around us as You do, so that all may come to know that You are the Hope we all need. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to be our Hope in the shadows. Amen.

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

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

The Root of Hope

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – (Psalm 31:24, NIV)

Be strong and brave, all of you who are waiting for the Lord’s help. – (Psalm 31:24, ERV)

Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon. – (Psalm 31:24, MSG)

Today is to be the first day of school with kids. Hope is the very thing that brings excitement at the onset of a new school year. There is great hope for new learning, growth, and good things that are to come as we navigate the new. This year, we are in a new building that is to be our temporary home for the next year and a half while the old school is rebuilt and made new. Our district always has buzz words that appear over and over again as a sort of theme for the new year in all of our pre-school year trainings. Interestingly, this year, the word they chose is hope. Though I am quite certain that the intent is not in the biblical sense, those of us who believe appreciate the word being selected, for it is hope that keeps us in education and returning to school each day. The dictionary defines hope as: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Biblically, hope goes far beyond a feeling. It is a knowing in our heart of hearts that no matter what we see or know in the here and now, ultimately, all will be so much better than we could hope or imagine. As I prepare for a few hours from now when the students arrive, I pray that each child that enters my classroom will be filled with hope as they begin the new year. The first several classes of my day are sixth graders, so they have much new to anticipate. May every heart recognize the opportunity to utilize the fresh start and allow themselves to set goals and work toward them.

Ever before us,

are all things made new;

each day a fresh start,

we choose what to do.

Classrooms are prepared,

to welcome new in;

lessons are ready,

as the day begins.

May hope be what’s felt,

as students arrive;

endless potential,

Lord, help each to thrive.

Lead us and guide us,

with goodness and grace;

may each child feel known,

throughout each school day.

Help all to connect,

to know they belong;

let kindness surround,

and courage make strong.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You grant us strength and courage to begin each day new, and You fill our hearts with hope that keeps us moving forward in the direction we are meant to go. Forgive us for our anxious thoughts, as we need to allow hope to rise and fear to be silenced. Teach us to seek You for strength and grace, and lead us in love to walk in Your ways. Show us how to meet each student where they are at, and to care for them well. May all who enter the building feel new hope. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, our true hope forever. Be glorified O God, as we trust You and praise You for the hope we know in You as we navigate each new day. Amen.

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

May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even was we put our hope in You. – Psalm 33:22

Courage and Strength to Wait

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – (Psalm 27:14, NIV)

Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help. – (Psalm 27:14, ERV)

Please answer me: Don’t give up. Wait for the Eternal in expectation, and be strong. Again, wait for the Eternal. – (Psalm 27:14, VOICE)

In today’s society, we are not very good at waiting. Because we have more access to simple solutions than ever before, we tend to be less resilient in the wait. If we need information, we have endless options at our fingertips. If we are somewhere to make a purchase and the lines are too long, we can pull out our phone and order it online to be delivered. Our instant gratification society makes waiting for anything an act of our own will and discipline. God’s timing is not ours, and there is no Prime delivery option. He hears us the instant we ask, but the way He works is on purpose and for a purpose. Most of us have areas where we need to grow in patience. Waiting on the Lord grows us in patience, perseverance and trust. Sometimes, that is as much what we need as whatever it is for which we asked. As we wait, it requires strength and courage to trust that the Lord will help. He is faithful and will move in His perfect timing. Often, His answers or solutions are far different than we had hoped or imagined, yet always, He has purpose through how He provides. Many times, what transpires goes far beyond what we could have dreamed or done on our own. In all things, He is good and worthy of our trust. May we ever seek the Lord for answers and ask Him for help, for He is faithful as we wait on Him and trust Him for the strength and courage we need.

Choose wait on the Lord,

Crabbing is a practice in patience…

for He is the One;

who shows us what’s right,

how battles are won.

He grants us courage,

when we are afraid;

He supplies His strength,

to walk in His way.

In all things, always,

the Lord will be near;

ready to help us,

and make the way clear.

Trust in His goodness,

in patience, choose wait;

His way is the best,

and He’s never late.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You and trust in You, You supply the strength and courage we need to wait on You to show us what is next. Thank You that You lead and guide us in Your way, and that You provide answers that are best for us. Forgive us for the times that we have navigated on our own or quit waiting and took matters into our own hands without direction. Teach us to seek You and slow down to quietly listen. Lead us in Your love to care well for those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You for answers and then trust in Your strength and courage to wait for Your direction. Amen.

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

Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience… – Colossians 1:11

Take Heart

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – (John 16:33, NIV)

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” – (John 16:33, ERV)

“I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.” – (John 16:33, VOICE)

It is good to be reminded that we are not promised a problem-free life, but we are promised the presence of He who has overcome every obstacle that will come our way. We need not worry or be fearful, yet we ought not be surprised when challenges come our way. To “take heart” is such a visual phrase for me – it is a sort of placing His heart over mine to protect, lead, and love through all that comes my way. As we give Jesus our heart, He gives us His. His heart is one of love, strength, courage, and resolve. May we ever “take heart” and seek the Lord, for He is our peace through every trial and trouble that comes our way.

Take heart in the Lord,

choose trust in His ways;

they aren’t trouble-free,

He’s present always.

He comes alongside,

and grants us His peace;

His strength, provided,

as fear we release.

For He is much more,

than we’ll ever face;

His love is stronger,

and endless, His grace.

So, trust in the Lord,

be brave and take heart;

His love will lead us,

wherever we start.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You remind us to depend on You in all things and at all times, and that You are trustworthy so that we may indeed, “take heart” in You. Forgive us for our fearfulness and lack of faith when troubles come. Teach us to trust You more so that we quickly “take heart” and know Your peace in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us in ways that build courage and promote peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we “take heart” in You and stand steady in Your perfect peace. Amen.

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

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

Strength in the Waiting

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – (Psalm 27:14, NIV)

Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help. – (Psalm 27:14, ERV)

Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God. – (Psalm 27:14, MSG)

God is so faithful. To be strong and take heart is to trust in God to be our strength as we wait. Right now, I am waiting to find out what next year might look like. Our current school will be torn down and rebuilt and our temporary location for the next year and a half is far different from what has always been. Additionally, I do not yet know what my teaching assignment will be. Due to the flexible nature of my teaching certificate and endorsements, I end up being a utility teacher that fills in the holes where I am needed. This ever-shifting role never gets boring, yet I never truly feel like I have mastered my craft. One of the things that I know to be true is that we must be lifelong learners. To do so requires strength, courage, and trust. There are days that I have wanted to quit, but God has continually strengthened me and carried me. This weekend, we typically have plans to go and do, but this year, we will be at home with no agenda. I imagine that this planless weekend is meant to be an opportunity for God to strengthen and refresh us in the sweet stillness of simply being home. Whatever this weekend holds for you, I pray that it will be a time of refreshment and strengthening as we give thanks for the ones who laid down their lives to protect the freedoms we know and enjoy.

Choose wait on the Lord,

Photo by Nikolay Draganov on Pexels.com

be strong and take heart;

He’s faithful to help,

finish what we start.

He leads and guides us,

with His faithful love;

strengthens with courage,

to rise up above.

Lean into the Lord,

for in Him we see;

all goodness and grace,

answers to each plea.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You strengthen us and supply what we need to keep moving forward as we wait on You. Thank You that You are faithful forever. Thank You for those who laid down their lives for us all. Forgive us for our lack of trust in the waiting. Teach us to trust You more and to love those around us as You call us to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we wait on You and praise You for the strength and courage You supply as we navigate our days. Amen.

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

But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” – Psalm 31:14

Good Beyond

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. – (Romans 8:28, NIV)

We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. These are the people God chose, because that was His plan. – (Romans 8:28, ERV)

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. – (Romans 8:28, VOICE)

It is easy to see how God will use blessings for our good, yet it often takes a significant amount of time to discover how the Lord will work out our trials and heartaches for ultimate good. There are times when the good is the experience of knowing God’s faithfulness through all things, yet other times, He brings us to a place that is far better than where we were before. Always, He makes His love known and supplies what we need to navigate each next step. Incredibly, God always will bring us to a different vantage point so that we can look back with new perspective and appreciate how far He has brought us. In all things, God is good and He can work all things out for our ultimate good. Right now, I have a few dear friends that are enduring the sort of challenges that can blind a person to how God could possibly bring good from what is going on. Though I know not what the outcome will be, I do know that God is faithful and will stay beside them each step of their way. His love will continue to be outpoured, and His strength faithfully supplied, as each of them seek Him to be their Source. May we ever seek the Lord in all things, trusting that He will work everything out for our good because we love Him and it is His perfect plan.

In everything,

.

The Lord God is good;

Trials and triumphs,

His love’s understood.

He grants us His strength,

To keep pressing on;

Supplies what we need,

To in Him, be strong.

Often He leads us,

To something much more;

Than we might have hoped,

Beyond that before.

His plans are perfect,

His grace is enough;

Our Hope and Healer,

Who knows what shall come.

Beauty from ashes,

Hope from the despair;

His good, unending,

Eternal, His care.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You work all things together for good for those who love You. Thank You that this includes both trials and triumphs. Thank You that You are still working, even when we cannot see how. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when the trials blind us to Your goodness. Teach us to have Your eyes to see, so that we might recognize the help and hope that You supply, and trust You to carry out Your plan to bring good, even from spaces and situations that are not. Show us how to love those around us through all things in tangible ways that make Your heart evident and Your provision clear. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they experience Your faithfulness in all things. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us through every situation and circumstance that comes our way, and trust You to bring Your good far beyond what we can see or imagine. Amen.

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

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

Good Plans

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

“I’ll say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.” – (Jeremiah 29:11, ERV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope – never forget that.” – (Jeremiah 29:11, VOICE)

The same God who spoke this promise through Jeremiah, still has the same promise for us today. Though the world around us might lead us to believe differently, who God is and how He loves us does not change. God’s plans for us are good, not to harm us. His plans provide a hope and a future. We are currently in the seemingly longest season as we navigate the stretch between winter break and spring break. It is easy to lose sight of a hope-filled future, amid the cold, gray days that are a battle to keep kids engaged in their learning and invested in another round of testing. Yesterday, we were sent a survey for staffing for next year. The survey asked what we would most like to teach, what we are okay with teaching, and what we absolutely do not want to teach. Being asked does promote hope, as I am weary of constantly having to learn new curriculum in new subjects. That being said, I have to trust that God’s plans are far better than my own, and He know what is best, far beyond what I can hope or dream. May we ever seek the Lord, who is always good, to lead and guide us into each new season, and trust Him to bring forth good in all that lies ahead.

In God, there is hope,

For all that’s ahead;

Always His plan’s good,

He does what He says.

A future with Him,

Our promise secure;

Grace in the waiting,

As His path’s made clear.

Lead us, Lord Jesus,

To walk in Your ways;

With confident hope,

That You’re good always.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your plans for us are good. Thank You that in You, we have a hope and a future that is so much more than we can imagine. Forgive us for the times that we lose sight of Your goodness and grace or forget the hope we have as we walk in Your ways. Teach us to maintain our trust in You in and through all things. Show us how to love those around us well, so that all may come to know the hope and future You have for us all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the promised hope that is forever found in You and trust in the future that You have lovingly planned for us. Amen.   

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

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

Jesus is Our Peace

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” – (John 16:33, NIV)

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” – (John 16:33, ERV)

“I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.” – (John 16:33, VOICE)

No matter what comes our way, we can know and experience peace in Jesus. He already knew that we would face the troubles that come from a broken world, yet He endured them all on the cross and knows every trial and challenge that will come our way. Jesus, in His infinite love, has promised to be present to help and be our peace. The peace that comes from Jesus is not simply the absence of war, but is an overwhelming, all-encompassing, assurance that He is with us and for us, and because of that, calm comes and covers our entire countenance, no matter what is going on around us. True peace is internal, not external. May we ever seek the Lord to be our peace, no matter what we face or find ourselves in, for He is good and has promised to be present to be our peace.

Jesus has promised,

To be near, bring peace;

Calm in His presence,

Love’s blessed release.

It does not depend,

On our circumstance;

It is internal,

Not random nor chance.

For the peace of God,

Goes beyond what’s known;

Soothing to the core;

As His love is shown.

Even in chaos,

The peace of God comes;

Lays hold of our heart,

As His will be done.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to not only experience the world, be in the world and overcome the world, but so that we would have One that already knows and understands everything we face, and can provide the peace we need to keep moving forward. Thank You Jesus, that Your perfect peace is not dependent on what is going on around us, for it is Your goodness, going on inside us. Forgive us for not slowing down to recognize the peace that is present in You. Teach us to turn our heart to You, so that we may know and experience Your perfect peace in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us in ways that share the peace that our hearts experience in Your presence, so that they too, may know the peace that comes from You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to be our peace in all things and at all times. Amen.

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

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7