When my heart is not at peace...

Some days, I find myself freaking out. Especially coming back from a week at home for Thanksgiving break, it's always hard to come back to school. Home is so comfortable--no responsibilities and no pressure.

Today was one of those days. I woke up to my heart beating faster than usual, worried. I thought about my upcoming tests, homework to do, programs to plan for my unit, emails to reply, and the list goes on and on. I hate the feeling of being overwhelmed.

At these times, I love to journal. I love expressing all my thoughts on paper and lifting all my burdens to God. When I cannot explain this feeling that is bothering me inside, I know that God sees and God knows and God understands all that I am feeling.

I was reminded of how great God is. I remember reading in the Bible about the time when God calmed the storm. The disciples were master fishermen, yet they encountered a storm that they feared and could not handle and had to call Jesus to help them. All Jesus had to do was rebuke the winds and the sea and there was A GREAT CALM. He is so powerful.  I love that it wasn't just any kind of calm. There was a GREAT calm. If this is the God that hears my prayers, what do I have to fear?

It is days like this that I am reminded that I do not trust God as much as I should.

 I was so encouraged in Campaigners with these girls who struggle with the same things that I do. I love that they are not afraid to share the quotes that the love. I love that we are here to build one another up. I was reminded that "When God brings you to it, He will bring You through it." There is no obstacle that is too great for my God. I just need to walk alongside Him during these times.

I also gained a lot of encouragement from the song, Long Way Home by Steven Curtis Chapman.

"I got some rocks on my shoes,

fears I wish I could lose,

they make the mountains so hard to climb,

And my heart gets so heavy with the weight of the world sometimes...

 Well I know we're gonna make it,

I know we're gonna get there soon...

And I know wherever we go, 

He will never leave us

Cause He's going to lead us home."

I hope and pray that when you encounter times that your heart is not at peace, you will come to the Lord. He hears you, He sees you, He understands right where you are.