When Life Feels Unsettled: Grace, Direction, and God’s Peace
Download MP3Welcome to a place of peace, hope, and divine encouragement. This is Joy In Every Step with your host, beloved preacher, retired teacher, and faithful servant of the Lord, Elder Sarita Bernadette. Long before podcasting existed, a promise was spoken. That one day, Sarita's voice would bring comfort, clarity, and understanding through the word of God. Years later, when God opened the door, Sarita took the next step in faith.
Introduction:What began as a leap of faith has become a weekly invitation to walk more closely with God, discover the joy found in his word, and receive fresh revelation for every step of the journey. Whether you're walking through the valleys or standing on the mountaintops, Sarita's heartfelt messages will guide you back to God's promises with wisdom, warmth, and the gentle reminder that he cares deeply for you. So open your heart, settle your spirit and take the next step in faith with Joy In Every Step.
Sarita Bernadette:I'll lead with this one. I have to get it right. I can't mess this up. I would ask, is this masking perfectionism? You've probably heard a lot about this one already, perfectionism that is.
Sarita Bernadette:This and similar statements disguise fear of judgment, beloved. Statements like this can disguise fear of failure and a general feeling of inadequacy hidden behind a purported high standard. It can also mask fear of success. Because if you get it right, if you do manage to pull it off perfectly, is someone then going to demand that you continue to do that? Second Corinthians twelve:nine, But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness so I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Sarita Bernadette:Here Paul makes reference to the thorn in his flesh that he had asked God to remove, remember that? God did not grant his request. Instead God created the ideal space for his power to show up. Instead of what if, what if, what if, instead of trying to do things perfectly, we tried our level best and left the rest up to God? I've seen him show up in my weakness and do what only he could do.
Sarita Bernadette:His glory really shines through when we allow him to carry us through each day and whatever that day may bring. And also perfectionism can keep you stuck in the same place for long periods of time. So I say beloved, make the move, make the mistake, you'll be all right. Beloved, I believe one of the reasons people resist obeying the Lord is because it can be uncomfortable. It can be inconvenient and a bit scary.
Sarita Bernadette:Well I guess that's three reasons isn't it? When the Lord tells us to do something new, our instinct is to ask for more information because we want to know if it's going to cause us temporary pain or maybe cause us to lose something. Pivoting isn't always easy. We get comfortable where we are even when we know we don't belong there. Isaiah 4three eighteen-nineteen reads, Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old.
Sarita Bernadette:I am about to do a new thing. Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The historical context of that verse is so rich.
Sarita Bernadette:God is speaking to the Israelites and telling them not to think about a past miracle of escape. He says, Look, I'm doing another one. This one will be even better. Hear me with your spirit beloved, lean into the pivot. Don't let the scaries stop you.
Sarita Bernadette:Joshua one:nine reminds us, I hereby command you be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Fear not beloved, the Lord is with you. As I was working on this episode I was reminded of this sound that I love to hear. I get treated to it during the months of November through March every year.
Sarita Bernadette:Some of you know what I'm talking about, it's college basketball. That's college basketball season during those months and the sound is sneakers on the hardwood. It's this high pitched squeak as the players work their way around the floor. They keep one foot firmly planted on the floor at times as they figure out their next move. It's their way of staying anchored.
Sarita Bernadette:They don't want to get called for traveling. And trust me, that pivoting can be hard on the legs and the knees if you're not in good shape. If you haven't had a lot of practice that pivoting can be painful. Beloved the spiritual pivot is easier when we remain anchored in the Lord. When we get more practice, we get better at it.
Sarita Bernadette:As we move on to the next, we have to maintain our faith through reading the word, prayer, and worship. And just like a basketball player looks ahead and sees that the direction in which they were headed isn't the best option, we need to be open to a new way as well. That move that way might have worked in the past, but if you realize the old way of doing things doesn't serve you or help you to grow, you need to pivot. Proverbs sixteen:nine, The human mind plans the way but the Lord directs the step, the steps. Beloved, we can strategize and we can make choices for our lives all we want to but the ultimate authority, God Almighty determines the final outcome.
Sarita Bernadette:Pivoting is a sign of strength and spiritual maturity. It signifies your ability to trust in the one who knows all. Remember Proverbs three:five-six, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. God will show you the way.
Sarita Bernadette:And this part is important, just because your plan didn't work out doesn't mean you failed, it means you learned. And sometimes a pivot may be a small adjustment, for instance, you may be guided to a specific area of focus in order to move forward in your career or it may be that God is just guiding you to change careers altogether. In any event, there's power in the pivot. He knows the plans He has for us, right? We're always learning.
Sarita Bernadette:We're always learning. God's plans are good. So God tells Elijah to go and stand out on the mountain. The wind, an earthquake, and a fire pass by. But God's not in the drama.
Sarita Bernadette:Are you hearing me? God's not in the drama. He speaks in a sound of sheer silence or a gentle low whisper. I repeat, Elijah found peace in the silence after all the noise stopped. How many of us are willing to seek out the silence so we can hear the Lord's voice clearly?
Sarita Bernadette:Sometimes we get caught up in rumination when we're under duress. We think about how big the problem is instead of thinking about how big our God is. His word says nothing is too hard for him. Nothing. No thing.
Sarita Bernadette:So the question becomes, are you willing to hand that thing over to the Lord and allow him to handle it? And I know sometimes when we're in the midst of a battle, we don't really see how we're going to have peace. Remember, God made the promise. It's up to us to believe it. In Philippians four:seven, he says, God's peace will guard your hearts and your minds.
Sarita Bernadette:Beloved, it's protection from the troubles of life. It keeps watch. Listen, the Amplified Classic uses the term garrison. It says, The peace that transcends all understanding will garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. My goodness.
Sarita Bernadette:A garrison is a group of soldiers stationed in a town, fort, or building to defend it, or the actual military post and the buildings where they're living. So imagine our hearts and minds being guarded and defended against attack. That's so powerful. The previous verse that's Philippians four and six, you're probably familiar with it, reminds us not to be anxious about anything. It encourages us to pray instead.
Sarita Bernadette:You've probably heard the expression, if you're going to pray, don't worry. And if you're going to worry, don't pray. The scripture instructs us to bring our worries to the Lord in prayer. And yes, it defies human logic. You can't figure it out.
Sarita Bernadette:God's peace doesn't depend upon your situation. It doesn't follow human reasoning. It doesn't make sense during tough times. But you can. You really can indeed be in the worst of times and still be at peace.
Sarita Bernadette:John fourteen twenty seven reads, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. The voice reads that same verse, My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don't give gifts like those of the world.
Sarita Bernadette:Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. The Psalm concludes with a definitive statement and this is verse 11. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. That should bring tremendous comfort and security to all believers.
Sarita Bernadette:Peace and blessings, beloved. This is Joy In Every Step. I'm Sarita Bernadette and I'm grateful you chose to spend some time here with me. Feel free to share this episode with someone you know would appreciate it. You can find Joy In Every Step wherever you listen to your podcasts and do give us a follow there.
Sarita Bernadette:Do check out the website as well. We're at joyineverystep.org. See you next time.
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