Secluded serenity...

 Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD
 with all your heart 
and lean not
on your own understanding;”

Everyone needs a time and place to quiet their hearts, and cast their cares to the One who knows all. I know of people who retreat to the restroom, lock the door and take fifteen minutes to reconnect with their Heavenly Father. I learned of a woman who laid on the couch and put a dish towel over  face, this was the family’s cue she was talking with God. Others lace up their shoes for a good walk, run, or kayak ~ renewing their soul while getting healthy. Others of us set the alarm a couple hours earlier in order to be awake before the rest of the house. And I’m sure there are some that set time aside before closing their eyes at night. Regardless of when it is done, the important thing is…they are getting it done!

Time with God is a priceless gift! We don’t have to carry our trials, troubles, and frustrations with us. We don’t need to have the weight of anger, hurt, fear, and annoyance weighing us down on a daily basis. Instead, we can find our secret place of worship and prayer. This may be your living room, the bathroom or a place like shown today. Regardless of the location – set time aside each and every day to cast your cares to the Lord. He is faithful and will relieve the weight, remove the hurt, and open your eyes to all the wonderful blessings He has surrounded you with.

It isn’t until we remove the negative and emotional hurts of life that we can truly start to enjoy God and His presence. He has so much for us. He never leaves us. My book illustrates my negative emotions and feelings of loneliness and God’s departure when in truth…God never left but I didn’t recognize all He had done and provided until over ten years later. I pray before I write, while I write and when I finish writing. I want to write for Him. I want to touch the lives of other siblings hurting and experiencing years of pain after losing their brother or sister.

Please don’t misunderstand me – when you first cast your cares to the Lord, you won’t return to the busyness of life free of pain and hurts yet recognizing what God has done for you – sending Jesus to live, die and be crucified for your sins – then to rise again. He did this for you. Once you release the tears and fears, Jesus will snuggle into each and every crevice where pain used to be. Instead of a cement wall around your heart, preventing you from trusting and loving again – you will have new growth.

I pray you trust Jesus as you sit and watch the calm of the water. Open up your Bible, John 3:16 is a great place to start. As you enjoy God’s creation, remember you are one of those creations – and are dearly loved! God can take away the hurt, you only need to trust.

Job 22:26
“Surely then
you will find delight
in the Almighty
and will
lift up your face to God.”