And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. - Psalms 55:6

Look up and see the dove, flying without a care and worry. With a swoop the graceful creature extends its wings and with a flash of white is gone. In Psalms, we read about the dove. How often have you wistfully looked at the birds and wished that you could fly away with them. Leaving your worries and cares, trials and troubles, you’d fly to the place that would be restful and calm. 

One place is peaceful, and we read about it in Revelation.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

We look forward to that day, but still wonder where can we can find peace, comfort, and hope in a world that is torn apart and ready to fall to pieces before our eyes. 

In this journey called life, it is easy to start looking at the difficult circumstances, focus on them, and become discouraged. Before we realize it, those same trials have increased and are creeping over the very path our feet are upon. The evil plants of discouragement and despair seem to choke our souls. In our hearts, we become distressed and look for a way of escape.

In Psalms, David wishes to escape his trials, be free of the pain, and fly away to a restful place.

There is only one place to find peace. To find true freedom from the cares of life, and the tides of the world.

It is where God is. 

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

We are a called people, and when we accept the gift of eternal life, the spirit of God dwells within us. 

We are able to find our restful place in GOD, even amid the discouragements, the trails, the unrest, and the pain.

God did not promise us an easy route in life - to the contrary, Jesus said, 

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus Himself had a life filled with trial, disappointment, and pain but at the same time He was filled with peace knowing that His Father was with Him and that He was living out the ultimate purpose as our Lamb and Saviour. 

Because HE overcame, we can too. We can have beautiful, freeing peace. 

For  John 4:18 says, “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

There is no fear in God’s love, and truly there is no restlessness when we realize that we are placed here and now at this place in time for a reason.  We can be as free in our hearts as the bird, and find comfort under the shadow of the Almighty.

Yes, there will be difficulties. Yes, there will be discouragement. Yes, there will be pain. It’s inevitable.

But God’s perfect love buoys our hearts, and we are given the strength and peace to get through it. 

God is in control, no matter what. He is our Anchor when our heart is ready to drift away. He is the guard of our soul in the middle of the battle. And He is the sunshine that pours into us and renews us from the inside out.

So, when your storm rages. When your flesh is failing you. When hope is gone. When your faith is gone and your future seems so unbelievably uncertain. REMEMBER. God isn’t done with you yet and He’s not letting go. 

He will lead you to peaceful streams, he will take you to calm fields of grace and love. Rest in HIM. His strong, mighty arms of infinite understanding are always there. It’s not a question of “Are they there?” But “Will I let them hold me?”

So next time you see the dove flying, remember, you are FREE. Free Indeed.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. - John 8:36

Give me your heart, give me your soul, Come to to the fountain - you can be satisfied. There’s a peace, there’s a love, you can get lost inside. Come to the fountain & let me hear you testify - NEEDTOBREATH (Testify)

We hold back, we hang on, we cling, we shrink from giving everything we know, we feel, we “need”. 

Each breath is a gift. Each time we lay our heads on our pillows for the night, our breath is in God’s hands.

We may not wake to see the morning light. But each day that we do, and open our eyes to the light of another day, God’s goodness is displayed. He has sustained us. He has kept us through the night. Protected us, gave us each pulsing beat of our heart. Each beautiful breath inhaled is something that we are never sure of. We do not know when it will be taken. We do not know how long our lease on life is.

But yet we hold back. We say, “I can do this better than you, God”.

My friend, there’s no time to be holding back now. There’s no time for sitting on the fence. For saying, “Maybe tomorrow. Today I have PLANS. God, I’m not ready today.”

Can you hear the earth groan? The earthquakes, floods, fires, disasters - nature is groaning under the curse of sin. It’s taking its toll. 

Can you see the upheaval of the world? As the darkness becomes denser and the light grows dimmer? As morality is destroyed, innocence is lost, purity is blackened.

Dear soul, don’t hold back, even 10%.

Your heart and soul must be given, unconditionally, completely, 100%

So what are you waiting for?

Make sure you have surrendered. Make sure you know where you stand. Be sure that you are secure.

When the winds blow and the persecution comes, you won’t be able to rely on your knowledge, your own decisions, or your own feelings. Then it will be God’s law, His infallible truth, His morality that stands the test and comes through victorious.

Once you discover God’s heart, once you discover His purity, His truth, His Laws (and Commandments) - then you will realize that ANYTHING you know is absolutely nothing. It doesn’t matter. It can’t even attempt to illuminate the recesses of the grand scheme of things.  

Only through God’s spirit, His grace and power, and His love can we hope to get through the future.

Then we will have a song, we will have a peace, we will have a love, a firmness of decision that no one - no height nor depth nor any other thing can separate us from God.

——  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 ———

Sometimes we lose sight of the true meaning of laying our helpless, hopeless plans in the hands of the Infinite. We forget that Jesus is the way, truth, and life. 

He is the reader of our dreams, the secret observer of our heart yearnings, the quiet listener when we whisper our deepest desires and hopes, the one that lends a sympathetic ear to our anguished filled prayers. 

We forget that He is the light on our path, guiding, leading, gently orchestrating our life.

When you do not know your next step, When the next minute, hour, day, week, month, and year in the future is unknown - just remember that it does not matter if we do not know.

If Jesus is the one leading you, your future is sure. He will be by your side, and that is a certainty you can rest in.

When you cry out to Him, He's there. When your anguished heart reaches for hope, He touches your soul through circumstances, others on your life journey, and everyday miracles. When you seek guidance, He will provide it. 

Just listen. Many times we cannot hear because we refuse to listen. 

When your dreams are bigger than so-called reality? Just place them completely in the hands of the good shepherd. He will lead your heart and open doors that you imagined were bolted and locked. 

He sees the fallen tear. He has a book of remembrance for each tear that falls.

He knows your deepest longings. A prayer for a loved one who has gone from the truth, a prayer of deliverance from a sin, a deep heart desire for a closer walk with Him - He hears it all.

Zacharius in the New Testament prayed for a child for years, and only when he was aged in years did that prayer become reality. Yet, the prayers of the years of waiting had been heard and in the right time and right place they were fulfilled.

God hears every one of your prayers, if they are done in sincerity and truth. You may be left with what seems to be a waiting time, but fear not if it is God's will in the right moment at the right time it WILL happen. And no power on earth can stop that prayer from being answered when that time comes. 

So have hope. There is a listener to every one of your expressed heart desires. And He just wants you to take it all to Him. Don't hide. He sees what is in your heart before you say it. Lay it all bare. 

Open your heart. And let the peace in knowing that God is in control and knows your future wash over you.

Rest in that. Rest in Christ's love and be blessed beyond measure by it.