But You are near, O LORD...

                  Psalm 119. 151

(I need that truth repeating

in a continual loop

in my thoughts.

His Presence

     changes everything.

When circumstances 

              are not looking good,

when my heart says

         time to panic

              or despair,

the LORD says,

"I'm already here.

You are not alone.

     Follow Me into it.

Do not be afraid."

The peace Jesus promises

is not the absence of conflict,

     but His shalom

     in impossible places.)

And David said,

"O LORD,

I pray to You,

turn the counsel

of Ahithophel

  into foolishness."

         2 Samuel 15. 31

(Turn the tide,

       O LORD.

There may be 

nothing I can do

to change things,

but I can pray.

Praying is always

against the odds.

Praying opens up

every door, window

and crevice 

to the power of God

          in this,

beyond what 

I can comprehend,

or even know how

      to pray for.

Seek God in this,

not just the answer.)

A man's mind

  plans his way,

but the LORD 

  directs his steps.

       Proverbs 16. 9

(God always has

so much more in mind

than we can imagine.

Set my heart, O LORD,

to follow You,

even into what appears

unexpected to me.

God's vision 

is so much bigger,

His purposes deeper 

than I can ever know.

Even in this.

Every road block,

every detour,

every pothole

          along the way

  has profound meaning.)

    

I hope in Your Word.

          Psalm 119. 81

(Saturate your heart 

       in God's Word.

Stake your life on it.

His Word 

will not just throw you

     a life preserver

   to keep your head

   above the rising flood,

but provide

  a life raft for others.

Every day in His Word

prepares me

for the storms of life,

   not if they come,

           but when.

God's Word is

not just a point of rescue,

but a place of flourishing.)

Peace

    I leave with you,

My peace 

    I give to you;

not as the world gives

   do I give to you.

Let not your hearts

      be troubled,

neither let them

      be afraid.

        John 14. 27

(Jesus gives shalom,

   a wholeness 

that saturates 

despite circumstances.

He's got this situation.

He's got you.

He is doing something

far more profound 

  than you can know.)

Commit your work 

      to the LORD,

and your plans

 will be established. 

           Proverbs 16. 3

(Commit means

  "to give in charge."

It is not that we lay

our plans 

      before the LORD,

but He lays His plans

      before us.

It is not that

we fit God 

   into what we do,

but God

seamlessly weaves us

into what He is doing.

Most often,

beyond what

   we can ever know.)

I will not leave you desolate;

I will come to you.

                  John 14. 18

(No matter how hard it is,

God will reveal Himself

     to you in this.

You are not alone.

This difficult situation,

     your very life,

is profoundly different 

    because of Jesus.)