This post is part of The Peony Project's monthly link-up.
If you read my post last week, then you know that life has been a little bit hectic lately. It's been the kind of hectic that's draining. Worry hides around every turn and I'll be honest...it's hard to beat it down and to find peace.
I'm honestly not sure how anyone can face a cancer diagnosis (let alone two), or really, any kind of personal crisis, without Jesus. Our faith and church community has sustained our family over the past two years, and I can't imagine going through all of this without knowing Him.
It can be really hard to find any sort of peace when your mind is plagued with concern or it's just elsewhere in general. But if there's anything I've found to be tried-and-true in installing peace in my day-to-day over these past two years, it's memorizing Scripture.
If you grew up in church, you were probably given countless memory verses over the years to study and remember. I've never been terribly with memorizing Scripture, but I've also never been so compelled to as I have the past few years. In 2012, I led a missions trip to the Dominican Republic for our youth ministry. We gave our students a list of verses to memorize and encouraged them that while they were praying with people in the DR, if they were at a loss for words, they could always pray Scripture.
Since my dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, we've attended our church's healing ministry for prayer nearly every Wednesday night. Time and time again, as we've sat in a small room with a team of prayer warriors surrounding my dad, I've listened to people pray Scripture over him. These experiences have only further confirmed the importance and power in praying through Scripture.
Chances are that if you've every been through anything difficult or have struggled with anything in your life (who hasn't?), then you've gone looking for verses that will bring you peace. If I've learned anything in the past two years, it's that memorizing verses and repeating them over and over again to myself can bring the biggest sense of peace.
One of my favorites is Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You." (ESV)
I think this verse encompasses the heart and power of memorizing Scripture: keeping God's Word in your heart and mind helps you stay in His peace. Even in the most turbulent of waters, there is a peace in knowing that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that this world is not our home.
Here are a few other verses that I have found comfort and peace in memorizing and calling on in the moments where I feel lost, sad, or helpless:
2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up agains the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)
Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)
Isaiah 54:10: "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (NIV)
Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)
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If you're a blogger reading this, and you've been searching for a community to call home; searching for people who will understand this part of your life, who will get the blogging world and who will be real friends for you in it, then I hope you'll consider joining us in The Peony Project. that's our heart, after all...to be friends for the journey.
And if you just stopped by today to do a little reading, then I'm so happy you're here. And I hope you'll either consider what peace means to you and join in on our link-up, or that you'll stop by a few of the other posts below and check out what it means to some other awesome ladies.
I just order the 3d fiber lash mascara last week when my friend had a party. I received it yesterday in the mail and today will be my first day trying it out!!! It was so nice to wake up to your post :) I also purchased a lip pencil, eye pencil, and the bronzer!
ReplyDeleteMy devotional this morning was about peace too! I think God must be trying to tell me something. Thanks for the good reminder Betsy! I'm so thankful that we can have peace in Christ even when are lives are anything but.
ReplyDeleteI'm really loving all the posts from this prompt. The topic was very timely for my life, too. I loved those verses you shared! Even though I've grown up in church and heard most of those a million times, it's awesome how powerful they are! Just reading them made me feel at peace. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI love all of these verses. I struggle with anxiety and depression so these verses really help.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE those verses. Especially the first two you listed.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your are having such a rough time right now. That is so hard.
Just continue reflecting on these verses and also know that weather God heals your family on this earth, or in eternity, each and every situation is for your good, and God holds you in his hand.
Lovely posts! Having faith in God has really helped during tough times. I'll be sure to put both your parents on our prayer rolls next time we visit a temple.
ReplyDeleteSo encouraging.No need to worry, for He keeps us. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the week!