radical peace
It's been a year of blogging for The One Society. What started out kind of crazy ended just as crazy, but man how have I grown. Writing has been so therapeutic for me, and I now have a tangible thing to see how my faith (and me) are maturing. Earlier last year, I had made a post called "undated". It was about a planner that I found and still love. I shared why having an undated planner worked well for me, so if you want the back story, go back to read "undated". But here we are again, in January, a month that is full of heartbreak, loss, and sadness. This post will go live on one of the hardest days of the year for me. It's the anniversary of my best friend's death, as well as what should have been the due date for my first pregnancy. To spare you two emotional posts this month, the 14th was the due date for my 4th pregnancy.
My body remembers the pain and grief before my brain finally catches up. Between wrapping up the year and starting another one, we're usually busy and preoccupied- trying not to be late to the next thing. In the middle of the chaos depression, fog, darkness creeps in, and just as I'm trying to figure out why, I look at the calendar. Then it makes sense.
This year, though, things are different. I don't know if it's because I finally have moved past the grief, or if this year God is showing me mercy. I guess we'll know next year. But what I'm most excited for is I can, at least for now, look at those losses objectively.
They are a thing of the past. That doesn't mean I don't still get sad when I think of those days, of what could have been. It doesn't mean they go away and don't matter, or won't affect me moving forward. It just means they are done- a necessary thing for me to experience to shape me and teach me. If I keep looking backward, I'm going to miss everything coming my way.
This year, I look at the loss of a friend, the loss of children, and see how, without those, I wouldn't have discovered how much my heart aches for "the one".
The one who lost someone they cared about. The one who is grieving a child. The one who has experienced unimaginable trauma: physical, mental, sexual, emotional. The one who feels unseen or unloved. The one who feels trapped. The one who feels broken, unworthy, damaged. The one who sees only darkness. The one who lost hope, lost faith.
All of those things I went through- endured- in silence, helped me discover things about myself, and how those things can be used for GOOD. Use for good OUT LOUD.
I don't think there was a marking period where my parents weren't told I talk too much. Well, turns out that was an ideal trait for someone who was not only going into the hair industry, but someone who's on a mission to encourage people and share the Gospel. No more silence about my struggles. No more sitting in shame or condemnation.
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Psalm 25:3
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:18
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
Shame and condemnation are no longer for me, thanks.
I did a lot of new and scary things last year. Seems to be that every December is extra "busy" to really kick off my year. (I start my planner in December because January tends to be a sluggish month.... again- read 'undated'.) I burst into December to give myself a running start to survive January. But on 12/28/24 I did my last "scary" thing of the year, and the peace I have is immense. So now, as I'm in what used to be the hardest month of the year, I have a radical peace about me. We've been sick for all of January so far, but I have peace. My husband has to have a hard conversation, but we have peace. We're trying to have more discipline with our health and nutrition, but we have peace.
This is the year of radical peace. Jehovah Jireh- the Lord will provide. What will worrying do except give me wrinkles and frown lines? It won't solve anything. It won't speed things along. The only thing it does is rob me of joy, and give power to someone who shouldn't have it.
Knowing I have this peace means I have to be prepared for anything. Wearing that full armor- while having peace- because: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10.
I can't pretend the peace won't be tested, but if I'm equipped to go to battle, I know without a doubt that peace will not only remain, but grow.
Are there areas in your life you need radical peace? If not, try thinking about it again. If so, what are you doing about it? Have you talked to God? Have you thought about surrendering control- or the illusion of it? Have you ignored the Spirit or been disobedient? (I've done all those- no judgement here!) But this is the PERFECT time to talk to God and gain that radical peace He want for you, and has for you!
YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. Time to let go of that thing God has been urging you to. It's time for radical peace.
