Each day, no matter where I go or what I’m doing, I see beautiful photographs. I could spend hours upon hours just wandering around taking pictures. Cloud strewn sunrises and sunsets are among my favorite things to capture and share. The photo above is one I took on my way home from work yesterday evening.  Clouds are something I believe add incredible depth and beauty. In this picture I see the dense, dark clouds, yes…but I also see the incredible warmth and color of the sun highlighting the darkness, as well as the coolness of the blue sky beyond the clouds.

Life for us is not much different. There will always be clouds more frequently than not. We’re given the chance to experience clear blue skies and calm weather, and those days are wonderful to behold. However, I often find more beauty in the character clouds add to the skies. They can reflect the light, and sometimes bring much needed rain. As with everything, our view of a cloudy sky is colored by our perspective. We can choose to see the clouds as a negative, a hassle, a detriment, an irritation. We can also choose to see the clouds as a positive, looking at them as yet another miraculous creation of the Lord.

Seriously think about it for a minute…God provided a way for us to literally get water out of thin air! He has made a way to water the world, just as He always makes a way to water the dry beds of our lives. Storms can be scary and hard to tolerate. Sometimes there are floods, lightening strikes, and so on. But the storms ALWAYS pass. As frightening as the storms of life can be, it is so important that we remember we are not alone and remain faithful in the knowledge that there is no storm big enough to overtake us.

“And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him saying, ‘Lord, save us, we are going to die!’ He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].” Matthew 8:24-26 AMP

The reality is that, when faced with a great storm, fear found it’s way into the hearts of the disciples, even with Jesus physically in their midst. Our Heavenly Father knows how much more vulnerable we are to the force of fear in our lives, which is why we’ve been equipped with the gift of the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t mean we have it easy, because it takes work, practice, and true faith to tap into that gift and allow it to deal with the fears and anxieties.

When Jesus came to Mary and Martha to see Lazarus, they believed He was too late to do anything. They didn’t understand and have faith that nothing is too big for the Lord to handle. When He first arrived and found everyone sobbing at the death of Lazarus, Jesus was frustrated to the point of anger at their unbelief. He forced them to remove the stone from in front of the tomb so He could see his friend. Mary initially responded by telling Him that there would be a horrible smell due to the length of time her brother had already been in the tomb, and that He was too late. “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?'” John 11:40 AMP

Because we are not given these kind of dramatic examples of the greatness of God to see with our own eyes, we often miss seeing the examples we ARE given. I knew, at least 6 months before I met my husband, that God had a plan for me, and I knew that the man He intended for me was going to come my way. I didn’t know when, where, or how, and I found that I didn’t need to know. I was very much at peace in the knowledge that God was working things out, and all I needed to do was remain faithful and trust the process. Just a few days before my initial “introduction” to him, I’d commented to my sister that I couldn’t shake the feeling that the man God intended for me was “just around the corner,” which turned out to be true, both literally and figuratively.

God has always done His greatest work in my life when I’ve chosen peace and trust in Him over fear and angst at the unknown. It is very true that peace is always right there for the taking. We just have to choose to reach out and accept the offering. It is not a superficial peace that is ephemeral, but instead a deep and abiding peace that can be felt in ways that truly bring rest to a weary soul.

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let my perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:27

I challenge you to truly relax, trust that God is with you in every moment of your day, and accept the peace He is constantly extending to you. Ask Him to help you take hold of the gift of His perfect peace, and ask Him to help you show others how to do the same for themselves. Just as the Israelites had to cross the river and take the promised land God was offering them, we must cross the barrier of fear and take the peace He is offering us.

Peace is a choice, so choose it.