A Time For Peace

On the second week of Advent we light a candle for peace. This is referred to the Bethlehem candle.

In our hearts is a tiny beat that waits on what we are hoping for. Hope is a time set aside for prayer because what we hope for has not yet come to fruition. It’s a mysterious holding pattern that draws us closer to the Lord. We trust in Him to always answer our prayers. Although God knows the desires of our hearts, they’re not always aligned to the plan He has for us. Why does God make us wait? That’s the $64,000 question, and to those who understand how the Lord operates, we go deeper into prayer. To the impatient it’s the  reverse; they take the matter into their own hands and then wonder what went wrong. We must have a clear understanding of patience to trust God while we are hoping.

We all know that patience is a virtue, but do we put it into practice? I am the first to admit that patience does not come naturally for me. I move to the beat of my own drum, especially when something that I’m hoping for is taking too long. At times my impatience has caused me pain. This pain is brought on by my going ahead of what I was waiting for. A clear example of this is getting too involved in the lives of others.

When I heard that someone was not following God’s direction, I wrote her a letter. This was an old-fashioned letter that needed a stamp for postage. The snail mail can’t be erased, and I know that it will be read over and over again. Though I prayed about it, I knew as soon as I placed the letter in the mailbox a great conviction came over me.

The Lord taught me a lesson on patience and to wait before I react. Regardless of the mishap, the person on the receiving end disconnected with me spiritually. Now I pray that as the dust settles, in some way this will all blow over and soon be forgotten. My hope is, God willing, that we can re-establish our spiritual bond.

You can feel the invisible force of the wind, but you can’t touch it. Hope is like this wind.  Without faith you cannot have hope and love; they are the three cords that are bound together.

We have all experienced an illness or watched one of our loved ones going through a horrific bout with cancer. The hope in their hearts is to get well and resume a normal life. The oncologists hope for a cure to mitigate the spread of the disease. While the patients wait, their hearts are filled with hope. We come alongside them in prayer, hoping for the best and believing God for their miracle. Through their trials comes great growth because within themselves all they can do is rely on God.

When we have no place to go in our afflictions, we can either get angry with God or we can call out to Him. Social Media has evolved and many who are suffering with cancer are sharing their journey on their posts. We can get attached to their heartfelt pleas for help, but we can also come to the realization that some of these people will live while others will not. In my experience of following a few of these cancer patients, the ones who have a clear connection with God have peace. Those who have not established a relationship with the Lord have hope but lack faith. I pray for all who come across my feed. My prayer is for them to draw closer to the Lord and to trust Him for all their needs.

If you have peace you can endure any stormy trial. Peace will guide your troubled heart to a place of rest. Peace can only be obtained through surrendering all your burdens to the Lord. Trust Him to see you through the darkness.

Dear Lord, through all the discouragement of this crazy world, may we, Your children, have hope in the future. To all those who have lost a loved one, please know that they are now resting in His arms. May those who are battling illness or cancer place their trust in You for a complete healing.  Lord, touch the hearts of those confused women who are contemplating an abortion.

Dear Jesus, touch our hearts to welcome You not only during Advent but always. May this Bethlehem candle bring you the peace we all hope for. Amen.

© Lynda Ciriza