Dear friend,
It was good to hear from you last week and thank you for sharing with me about the hard times you’re going through. I’m sorry to hear how tough things are, but I wanted to encourage you to keep running the race and finish well. There is a place of quiet rest and peace, near to the heart of God, and I hope this letter will lift you up and enable you to endure this season. The peace of God is precious and gives hope.
The peace of God is not as the world knows or gives. The world tells us a lot about peace, but this is what the Bible says: The peace of God is Jesus in the boat who cries, “Peace, be still!” and the wind and waves are quieted. The peace of God is Paul in prison who writes not to be anxious about anything, but to pray and thank God for whatever is happening, and His peace “that passes understanding” will guard your heart and mind. The peace of God is shalom of the Old Testament, a blessing and wholeness that comes from Him alone, by Him alone.
In spite of your situation, you can rejoice in Him if you have peace with Him, through Christ. He will fill you with all joy and peace in believing, and by His power you can abound in hope; there is hope in this time of crisis! He is with you in the struggles you face and equips you with everything good so you may know and follow Him. As you know Him and grow in Him, grace and peace are multiplied in your life, so that you may face whatever chaos comes.
I encourage you to go about the things you’ve been doing and know to do, the “ordinary means of grace” – praying, reading your Bible, spending time with believers, serving in the ways He has gifted you. As you walk in Him and with Him day-by-day, you will have peace and comfort to deal with this “new normal” crisis you face. Always remember that as His child, God will not abandon you nor forsake you; He will be with you to the end of the age.
Please let me know how you are doing as I continue to pray for you. In love,