Nougat 23

Who would have thought that Peace is proportional to Trust, particularly trusting God? I think it’s one of those truisms that we know but don’t always apply to our own situations. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some of us know this scripture. We can recite it in our sleep, backwards and forward even. But how often do we apply it to our own lives and circumstances? I am not asking to be anyone’s judge, just stating the obvious, since I’ve even quoted this before – to myself and others – then promptly forgot about this the next time a challenge came my way. Hmmn, what’s up with that?

The introduction to the nougat offers a vital element to the mix. Our willingness to Trust God. Now, Trusting God is complex eh. Because it requires that we step out of the driver’s side of our lives, opening ourselves to the roller coaster ride of Faith. It means intentionally forfeiting control over all: any, each and every situation and circumstance so God handles them.

If you are like me (and I hope you aren’t in this context), the natural tendency is towards solution-finding. That doesn’t always equal trusting God’s ability to work things out. In fact, it could often mean reverting to God is our last resort. What I have realized however, is that that route hardly ever is Peace-filled, and that often is a good gauge of who’s managing our situation.

Years ago, actually in pre-internet times (so rather ages or aeons ago!), there was a ‘Letter from God’ in circulation which included God advising that we place our cares in the Something For God To Do box. Trusting God is opting to do that. For, as our nougat reminds us, we trust and focus on God. Thus, for each time things seem to go awry, God expects us that we will refocus on God’s ability to sort things out; for God is God, and for God, nothing is impossible.

Given then that we are focused on God and God’s plans, we will find that God with fixes or guides us to fixing the situation. And God’s peace, a somewhat unflappable calm that praises or even ‘Hallelujah anyhows’, assures us that God is with us and working things out.

So, do we make plans or try to problem-solve in sticky circumstances? I’d say ‘Yes but …’. Yes we do, but in concert with God, ensuring that we are at peace about what we are about; and if not, then we Pause, Pray and Ponder until God’s Peace Prevails. Then we will discover the real sense of our nougat – *God will keep (us in God’s) perfect peace when we trust God’s promises and process, remaining focused on God despite the distractions*. Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ