Exodus 21:22-36, 22, 23:1-13; Matthew 24:1-28; Psalms 29:1-11; Proverbs 7:6-23

“The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11 NIV)

Strength and peace are not two things that I would say I have an overabundance in these days. I hate to admit it. Despite the fact that I have spent a month writing about Scripture everyday, participate regularly in Spiritual Direction, and have my daily practice with the Lord, I’m still having a hard time accepting strength and peace. I’m feeling emotionally and physically exhausted–I’ve been working to figure out the same scenario for months, if not over a year now. It can be defeating to constantly come back to the same thing, worried and confused on how to proceed. I trust the Lord, but sometimes you have to wonder why you don’t feel His answer or plan when praying through certain situations.

If you are emotionally or physically exhausted, you may be feeling the same. Sometimes it feels like more effort to accept the gift of strength and peace than to wallow in fear, stress, and exhaustion. Sometimes, it feels like a chore to turn things over to the Lord and accept His peace, especially when we aren’t feeling specific direction from Him.

But today I’m reminded of all the wonderful moments when I have asked for His strength and accepted His peace. It may not take away the physical exhaustion, but it does take a huge mental load off, which in turn gives our body and soul a break. I’m also reminded of the stories of people waiting much longer than I have–thinking specifically about the woman with the bleeding disorder, healed by Jesus. Sometimes, we have to step back and accept what we are given, letting go of the rest.

The Lord offers us His peace, and even through our uncertainty, it’s our job to accept it. I’m thankful for this reminder, and I will work on accepting the gift he offers each and every day.