Raindrops & Ripples | Stepping into Christ’s Peace and Authority Amid Life's Storms

I stood crushed as I watched the water falling from the sky hitting my feet, creating ripples in the puddle my feet were immersed in. I was burning with anger, shattered with rejection, and feeling the weight of my world and dreams falling down like ash from the great bonfire that was my sense of worth, my marriage… my family. I was going to move onto the next task in my evening to try and get away from the pain, but the Holy Spirit gently prompted, ‘Stay a little longer, I have something to show you.’ So I stayed…continuing to watch the water bounce off my feet. I could feel my own thoughts drift to the part of me that felt angry and upset with the enemy…it felt so unfair that the sin in someone else’s heart could hold such a catastrophic, far reaching, and disruptive ripple effect on so many…just like how these sudden ripples had in creating a chaotic presence in the water surrounding my feet. I just wanted to scream (side note…rollercoasters were cathartic in this season, being they were a socially acceptable place to scream as loud as your heart desires! I highly recommend!). As I stood I wondered if God really had something to show me because all I got was silence and my anger.

Just as I was feeling consumed by the part of me that was infuriated with the injustice… God interrupted my thought, ‘I know you are focused on the chaos of the numerous chaotic ripples, but observe the ripples that come from just around your feet.’

So I looked and noticed that even though my feet were experiencing the impact of the same raindrops the surrounding puddle was, the ripple created from the water running off from my feet had a much farther reach and and was smoother and calmer. This was such a contrast from the other numerous chaotic ripples in the puddle.

The Holy Spirit shared, ‘Stay close to me, abide in me, I will fit your feet with the readiness that comes from my gospel of peace. Even though you may be experiencing the downpour in a storm, staying in the shadow of my wings will produce a ripple effect of peace from your feet that will be farther reaching than the ripple effects of hurt and pain the enemy tries to create by deceiving others into sin. You may feel that the ripple of someone else’s sinful choices is overpowering, but the power of My peace, hope and love I give to my children overpowers the impact and chaos sin causes. Abide in me, rest in me and everywhere your feet land, My peace will be the ripple from your feet that far exceeds the ripples of sinful choices.’

And so the tears came…I felt seen…in one of my darkest places God met me with comfort, hope and reminding me I can walk forward in confidence knowing whose power I stand in; the power and safety of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Maybe you find yourself in a place where the hand of the enemy just seems to be doing a number on your life. The choices others are making are impacting your life and it’s incredibly unfair. Maybe you have tried to do everything right and yet you are left with having to pick up all the pieces. Bearing the consequences of their actions and the one(s) who hurt you appear to walk away without any consequences. The people you feel like should’ve cared, guarded and protected you from the tragic reality you find yourself in today, maybe are the ones whose actions have put you in the position your in now and I am sorry. If you never hear it from them, read it from me, because you are so worth being apologized to and seen in your pain. I see you in that, I hear your pain…the guttural outcry of injustice for your circumstances…I get it.

God promises us His peace.

Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Keep your eyes fixed on Him. Pursue His peace, seek His heart, stay in honest connection with your Heavenly Father. He is faithful to keep His promises. It is possible to be in the midst of chaos and still have peace. I have experienced it and continue to even amidst moments where life is just outright hard. Not because of our ability, but because of His grace working in us. He is SO tender and good.

I encourage you today to let Christ ready your feet with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) and start stepping out in the authority you inherit as a coheir with Christ (Romans 8:17), knowing He has equipped your feet with the ripple effects of peace wherever you go. His peace enables us to overcome the schemes of the enemy. The ripple created from the peace of Christ He gifts you in His grace will have greater impact on yourself and others than the disruption caused by the sin around you.

JUST SHOW UP & SAY YES to Him, even in this second. He already loves you exactly where you are.

Love you all!

‘Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.‘ 2 Thessalonians 3:16