...the surprise of a memory morphs into peace

It had been a particularly difficult weekend and facing Monday was daunting. Feeling overwhelmed with grief due to a broken relationship, and concern for an aging parent in harm's way, I began my chores. “Oh Lord,” I prayed, “somehow help me to get through this storm of life!” I felt His presence, but needed His assurance. Then came a surprise, as a memory verse from long ago popped into my mind! “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) I had been studying about how to meditate on scripture, and felt inspired to use my time doing just that while powering through my mindless morning chores.

What does it mean to trust in the Lord.... to put my confidence in Him, and my hope. Trust with all my being, all my feelings, and all my thoughts to the point that my actions reflect that trust! The rest of the verse tells me to not rely on my own understanding, my own knowledge or wisdom. In other words, to put my complete confidence and hope in the Lord, intensely and without wavering-to the point that I no longer worry or feel the heartbreak of life. Sounds good, but can I manage to do that? I began to repeat the verse and reason with myself, declaring that I will intentionally turn away from worry and overwhelming concern, and in my mind's eye laying it at the Lord's feet...all wrapped up in a tidy package. I told the Lord that I trust Him, I trust His ways and His wisdom with my whole mind and heart. Having settled that, now what do I do?

The very next verses, Proverbs 3:6-7 gives me the next steps in this process. Verse 6 instructs that I am to acknowledge Him - recognize Him, be aware of Him, and be diligent to include Him in all my actions, conversations, and the manner in which I live; and He will direct me on when and where to go. All my steps. All my words. All my actions and reactions. Verse 7 reminds me again to not rely on my own intelligence and skills but His; and to leave and stay away from evil. I had relied in the past on my own skills and knowledge acquired through training classes given by my employer. God has a bigger plan for my personal troubles, and His Word contains much more thorough training. His ways are never in error, nor is His timing. Period.

The weeds were, by then, managed on my three acres and the mowing underway with peace in my heart and a song on my lips. Good thing the sound of the mower covers up my old crackly voice; the neighbors undoubtedly would not think it as beautiful as my Lord does....