Taking Hold of Peace


TAKING HOLD OF PEACE

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." - Revelations 21:4 NLT

It is human nature to put high value on what we can see with our eyes.  We cling tightly to what promises joy or fulfillment.  It may sound like a crazy thing to say, but I am grateful for the trials and disappointments in life —not because I enjoy pain, but because I know that they help me to hold on to this world a little less tightly.

Only God is solid and unchanging (Heb 13:8).  Everything else in life will shake, decay and pass away.  It is a wonderful thing to enjoy our blessings, but what a horrendous grief it is to have to have our fingers pried off of people and things that are taken away.  The tighter the grip, the more intensified the pain when we later have to let them go.

No one can hold a candle to the immeasurable love He has for us.  No possession can hope to satisfy the deep longings of our hearts the way that He can. Beloved, are you holding on tightly to someone or something, trusting them for security, provision, love or peace?  Has your hope been placed in what will fade away?  Why not take hold of the One who lives forever and has an endless supply of it all?

Father, we believe; help our unbelief!  We ask for the power to grasp Your love’s width, length, height and depth (Eph 3:18).  Help us to loosen our hold on what is finite, visible and temporary to take hold of the immeasurable, invisible and eternal.

Father, we look forward to Heaven -—perfect peace, eternal joy and the blissful vanishing of every tear—when death, pain and sorrow will finally meet their end, and we will finally see You face to face.  How we long for the day when our faith will be met by sight.  Until then, help us to hold tight to peace, by keeping a light grasp on Earth, and a firm grip on Your hand.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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