Happy Place

Yeah, right!  I know that often sounds trivial, hopeless, meaningless, just not reality.  Words like peace, sleep, safety, tranquility, trust, security are all great but that is not always the case when you’re struggling with paying the bills, your kids, health, job, relationships, etc.  

Have you ever been on a zipline, rollercoaster, airplane, or jumped out of an airplane (with a parachute of course)?  Life involves risk, failure, success, fear… but to do anything requires some level of hope that it’s going to be okay. I don’t think I’ll ever bring myself to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But I can imagine the exhilaration for those that do experience it. In order to fly (figuratively) we need to jump.     

Roy T. Bennet said, “The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.”  All very good and inspirational until you’re the one on the edge of the bridge with the bungee cord attached. Or maybe you’re afraid of public speaking, getting a needle, how the doctors report will turn out, or walking into a job interview.  

As Christians we put our trust in God… not in a way that we are flippant about it or irrational, but in a way that God is there by his Holy Spirit in EVERY situation. And that made David pen the words in Psalms 4:8 These are a couple different translations, each worded a bit different. Reading it slightly different always helps me get the gist of what they are trying to say and lets it sink in better as well:  

 -         “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (New International Version)

-         “In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” (Amplified)

-         “Tonight I will sleep securely on a bed of peace because I trust You, You alone, O Eternal One, will keep me safe.” (Voice)

Sleep – rest, relax, replenish, releasing it all and letting go of everything for a period of time. It’s hard to sleep when you have a lot on your mind or when you don’t feel safe. To let everything go and trust God is a challenge for all of us.

My prayer is that all these words would be able to soak into your situation… that peace, sleep, safety, tranquility, trust, security and God’s presence would be with you today as you face real life situations.  

Blessings & Wisdom