by Kala Loptien

Not So Secret

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“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26: 3-4 English Standard Version

Deep breaths. In…and out. I find myself doing this often while I encourage our daughter to find her “recovery spot.” The world is a busy, tense and tightly-wound place, isn’t it? Sadly, we’ve made it that way. We are a schedule-filled, work-focused, over-programmed, on-to-the-next-thing kind of people. We wonder why we are weary and tired…grumpy and anxious. We wonder why our bodies start feeling the wear and tear. The world and the enemy like to pitch their solutions by way of the self-help section; the quickest fix and a plethora of coping (or avoidant) strategies. So. Many. Trends. And almost always a dead end.

It’s shocking and infuriating how quickly we forget the proper prescription to our troubles, isn’t it? It’s certainly not a secret. God is our rock; an ever-present help; a pain taker; joy producer; burden lifter; fear crusher. And yet; our sheep-like natures fail to listen. Instead of sprinting to His comforting, fulfilling throne for that peace that surpasses; we instead continue along our own stubborn, empty path.

But the beautiful thing about our God and Father is that He knows all of this. He is our Helper, Comforter, Counselor and Savior. He knows we have troubles. He knows we don’t cope well. He knows we need Him and that we can quickly lose our way without our Good Shepherd because He created us.  It’s why He’s given us his Word. (Ever noticed a message, song, verse or encouraging word delivered right when you needed it?)  It’s why we are told to pray without ceasing. It’s why we have the blessing of our church body and fellowship with other Christ Followers. While deep breaths and other strategies provide us with some temporary comfort; we know that our heart, soul and mind need the perfect peace that can only come from the everlasting rock. Thank you, Lord!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado