Life is so full of various things…

Joy. Agony. Contentment. Yearning.

Each contrasting element so very real… so undeniably present.

The intensity of all these feelings sounds overwhelming. I confess that some days, it does feel like I might drown.

Yet truly, I haven’t struggled too much with the presence of all these things in my life.

Because I also feel the intense presence of God.

The confidence that I am exactly where He wants me to be, even if I don’t know where He’s taking me.

As long as I am in the center of His will for me, what can shake me?

In the middle of everything that’s going on, I have peace.

Deep, solid, unshakeable peace.

I have no idea how God’s plan will unfold for my life. I don’t understand why He allows complexities, heartaches, and all the situations I face that raise questions with no answers.

But I know this: my Father knew my whole story before He created my life. He drew every step of my life map. And where He wrote hard times into the journey, I am confident that He has also written a pathway through them.

Because I believe this about Him, it is my Father Who I turn to when the intensity of life gets too deep for me.

When my soul doesn’t know what to pray for, He speaks in the stillness. “Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter shall fall.” (Ruth 3:18 KJV)

And my heart whispers a feeble, “Yes, Father.”

The struggle is still present. The battles are not over. My questions are as large as before.

But in that Holy Spirit moment, my soul finds rest.

Because peace is not the absence of trouble… It is the Presence of God.