In the middle of the storm, we cannot see. It is too foggy, windy and cold. Our vision is blurred by snowfall and rain. There is no light in the sky to give us direction, no clear blue to guide our way.

But when the storm has passed, all is still. Nothing moves. The trees are lopped with soft, heavy mounds of snow. The light shines through the tussled branches, a clear gold on the horizon.

When we do not know what is next for us, when we are afraid and yearning for clarity, when our minds are a confusing, conflicting mesh of voices and our hearts yearn for so many different desires, perhaps it is like the storm. We look for clarity, but cannot see.

When my children were babies and all was chaos, I used to walk around the house reciting this verse: "Seek peace and pursue it …. seek peace and pursue it!" (Psalms 34:14) At times there was no peace, and yet I was bound and determined to actively search for it. This past week, I have felt the same. I have felt torn and confused, my desires and dreams drawing me towards one thing and then another.

So I wake early, knowing that in the stillness of sitting quietly before God, he will give me peace. I pursue him. He meets me there. In the calm of the early morning, before anyone rises, I sense his comfort, hear his direction, heed to his promise that he will hold my hand and guide me where he wants me to go. The storm has passed. All is still.

Seek peace and pursue it. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Wait quietly for the storm to pass. When all is still, you will see clearly as you look into the mirror of his Word. You will sense his presence and hear his voice. Trust that voice. Do not be afraid. Light is on the horizon. In the stillness, you will know. And that knowing will fill you with an incredible peace. It is the peace of understanding that even when we cannot predict how it will all work out, our Lord knows, and that becomes enough for us.

In devotion to your growth and strength,
Jen