(Episode 32) In this crazy life bad things happen. But when they do, are you prepared to weather them with peace and strength? Here's how.
(Episode 32) In this crazy life bad things happen. But when they do, are you prepared to weather them with peace and strength? Here's how.
Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Dona Watson Show. I'm your host, Dona Watson. I'm just an average American Patriot who loves God, her family, her country. I try really hard to listen to God's voice. Sometimes I write stuff. Come with me, together let's explore this crazy experience we call life. Welcome to the show.
:Hello, hello, everybody! Welcome to Episode 32: Peace is a Promise! In the area of Southern California, where I used to live, one of the worst disasters that one could experience is wildfires. I've seen fires there race through neighborhoods and wipe out house after house, just pure devastation. Here in middle Tennessee, where I now live. One of the more common natural disasters is flooding. During the wettest seasons, the ground can become so saturated that the water just simply has nowhere to go. There's so much water here. I admit because there is that seasonal creek behind my house, here on my property, I thought long and hard before I bought this parcel. I considered the possibilities that could occur if the creek should overflow. But I also prayed about it a lot and I felt God's direction to go ahead, everything was gonna be okay. I just had that peace in my spirit that everything was gonna be okay. This is for the good. Then one day I was reading Psalm 29. I found two verses highlighted in my Bible. I had highlighted them at least a year before, long before I found this property, Psalm 29 verses 10 and 11, read:"The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever. The Lord gives his people strength; The Lord blesses his people with peace." And when I read those verses, I had to smile. Nothing happens on this world without God's permission. Did you know that? God doesn't just see the flood. He is enthroned over the flood as King. Some people can get hung up in this life when bad things happen. They blame God or chaos or the universe or the enemy. And they become angry at God sometimes and they say,"Why do bad things happen to good people?" That's a really good question. And to be honest with you, it's one that I had to work through when I lost my darling husband to cancer. People ask me,"How did you get through that?" Well, for one thing, I'm not sure if I'll ever reach the other side of grief. It still hurts so bad when I think of how I miss my best friend and my lover. We had a love for the ages. It was amazing. And I miss him so much, but I know that my God is the God of the flood. He carries us through the floods and the fires or whatever comes our way. You see, we live in a broken world and bad things do happen. And I may not know why, but I do know that my God is bigger than anything that this life can throw at me. He is bigger than any flood. He is more powerful than any wildfire. He sees a much bigger picture than I do. His view transcends my personal problems. His view transcends even time and space. And I trust him to take care of me, no matter what. When I was buried very deeply in my grief. I stood on this scripture, Psalm 29:11,"The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord blesses his people with peace." I don't know how, but I know it to be true. I just keep my eyes on him, knowing he sees my pain. And that somehow that miracle of peace will come into my life. As a child of God, the Lord Almighty has promised me strength and peace. And when I focus on that truth, when I hold onto that promise, I have seen it unfold in my life. And I know it will again. It doesn't mean we'll never have hardship in this life. Bad things happen. Just expect it. But if we stay close to God, we know that when those hard times come, we can have peace and strength through it all. Thank you, Lord. That's all I have for you guys today. I love you so much. Have a good day. Bye bye.