Hannah Hurnard’s book Mountain of Spices pairs a plant with each of the Fruits of the Spirit. Here, I connect those plants and our love of the outdoors with our faith journeys.

[There’s no other connection to Hannah Hurnard’s book than using the plants she assigned to the Fruits of the Spirit. Everything else is unique to this post. So if you’re curious about her perspective, I recommend reading Mountains of Spices and her precursor book Hinds Feet on High Places!]

Love: Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit that grows in warmer climates. It’s juicy and sweet.

A distinctive aspect of pomegranate is that inside are hundreds of little pods of fruit that each have a seed. This means when the fruit is opened it can quickly disperse the seeds.

I think this is how we’re supposed to think of the Love of God—full of goodness and easy to disperse throughout our lives.

When we walk in the love of God through thought, word and deed, we pray it plants love inside the recipient so they can pass it on too.

In this way, the Fruit of Love can be contagious and cause a ripple effect much farther than we can see.

Matthew 25:14-30 tells the parable of the wealthy boss who gives money to three servants to invest. The ones who do invest come back having made a profit. The one who does not use his gift has nothing to show.

When we use our giftings to show love to people around us, we’re being good stewards of our strengths and abilities.

In this way, when we give away “seeds” of love throughout our lives by showing love to others, we may not see the “investment” but we know it’s there and we’ve been the hands and feet of Jesus.

Everyone has a different way of doing this in the world. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can do this with your unique giftings in a way that’s life-giving to you and others around you!

Take a moment to reflect and ask the Holy Spirit how this could look in your life, with your current circumstances and capacity.

Are you surprised by what comes to mind? 

Joy: Camphire

Camphire, also known as mignonette, Egyptian privet and reseda, has one of the most fragrant flowers on the planet. People use it to make a distinctive yellow dye known as henna.

Joy can permeate a room or a situation, just like a fragrant flower.

And joyful people are often recognizable by their countenance and demeanor. Just as someone who has their hands or beard dyed a distinctive yellow, it’s a noticeable change.

Joy produces a visible change in our lives.

This doesn’t mean we’re happy all the time. But through all our range of emotions, we’re anchored in the knowledge of God.

Joy is one of the things that keeps us grounded as we allow ourselves to feel the full range of emotion God made us to have—including negative emotion.

Joy allows us to enter a situation and be an agent of change to add God’s perspective.

Take stock of what emotions have been most prominent for you in this season of your life. Whether positive or negative, take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where Joy changes the picture. Or where it can change you within the picture. 

Peace: Spikenard 

Another name for Spikenard is nardostachys jatamansi. It also refers to the oil people get from its root. It’s a medicinal plant.

The Anishinabe tribe made tea from the root to assist in healing coughs. This is especially interesting to me as the Anishinabe are indigenous to the region of Minnesota where I live.

Other tribes across North America also used this plant as an antidote to poison in the blood, topically for boils, mastitis, sores or inflammation.

[I found a fascinating article with these details and more, and recommend it to anyone interested in herbal medicine and its historical indigenous roots.]

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.” Someone who’s willing to speak for peace can bring a lot of healing to people and to situations.

As a nurse, the parallel between a plant that reduces inflammation and the idea of peace reducing relational “inflammation” is very inspiring!

1 Peter 3:8 exhorts followers of Christ to “be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous.” That’s why those who walk in peace are known as children of God. Because they bring people together the way Jesus did by prioritizing peace. And in that, they bring healing, just like spikenard brings healing.

What does bringing peace to the world around you mean to you? 

Patience: Saffron

Saffron is a spice collected from a flower in the crocus family. This spice is fragrant—a little bit goes a long way—and is considered highly valuable.

Saffron is a labor intensive crop. A lot of work produces a small amount of spice.

This is true of what it feels like to have patience.

In the moment, it takes a lot of work to build the skill of patience in our lives! It’s a skill that cannot be mastered in a day, but requires slow work to build bit by bit.

But when we put in the work to build this skill, it’s so valuable!

Patience can help give our hearts and minds the space they need to listen for Wisdom to speak.

Just like a little bit of saffron in rice can make it look and taste completely different, having the patience to wait for God to lead can bring an entirely different outcome to a circumstance than just rushing into it without first checking in with our discernment and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.”

When we practice patience and wait on the Lord, we can know that God’s response is to strengthen us.

When you think of patience, what circumstances do you think would benefit from listening to the quiet voice that suggests waiting on the Lord?

Kindness: Myrrh

Myrrh is a resin collected from the bark of the commiphora class of trees. It has many culinary, beauty and medicinal uses. People even use it to embalm the dead.

Myrrh was one of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus in the New Testament.

Of all of the different medicinal uses for myrrh, I found it of note that Myrrh can be used to treat leprosy.

In ancient times, leprosy was both feared and reviled. It was one of the diseases that caused people to have to live in isolation. To be rejected by their friends, their families and their faith communities.

A diagnosis of leprosy carried a high stigma with it of that person being “unclean” and unable to come before the presence of God at the temple.

Kindness is like myrrh spiritually.

Kindness brings people out of isolation and loneliness, even if they have something about them others consider awkward or controversial. Especially if they have something about them that the world or religion says stands between them and God and community.

Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

Even if we don’t agree with people, we can still offer them kindness and find common ground to move forward in sharing the love of Christ.

Reflect on this either with yourself or with others.

What are things you’ve heard that are like modern day versions of leprosy? Where can kindness help bring people out of isolation?

As I was writing this and reflecting on it, the one the Holy Spirit brought to mind for me is individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Gentleness: Calamus 

Calamus is also known as sweet flag. It’s called this because its leaves give off a sweet fragrance when they’re torn or broken.

A potent medicinal plant, indigenous tribes used it in ceremonies, for medicine and as a valuable supply for trading.

When I think of these areas in our world today—relationships, healing, and exchanging goods and services—the fruit of Gentleness would be beneficial in all of those areas.

As someone who works in healthcare, I’ve seen how gentleness can bring healing.

Oftentimes, expressing gentleness to someone means making space for their pain. Being willing to hold it with them in that moment rather than putting up walls and being brusque or harsh.

Being gentle in moments of pain and weakness allows for trust to be built. In gentleness, we can have strength for those who need extra support in that season.

Gentleness and strength do not contradict each other, but rather amplify each other.

This combination of softness and strength that’s expressed through gentleness is one of the things that can truly differentiate someone who follows Christ from someone who doesn’t.

In moments of intensity and pain you have something to offer that others don’t.

John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” How can you infuse your life with gentleness? 

Goodness: Cinnamon

My first thought of cinnamon is how good it smells!

Waking up every year on Christmas morning, the house would be full of the smell of cinnamon. It was our family’s Christmas breakfast tradition to make bear claws with a cinnamon filling.

This spice is popular because of its sweet flavor and scent.

When I think of goodness, I think of home. Of tables full of laughter and light spilling out of windows welcoming you in to join the family.

The Bible describes the group of people who follow Christ as a family, calling us brothers and sisters.

Hebrew 10:19 says, “And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and He welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.”

The story of the prodigal son describes a son being welcomed into his family. And Psalm 68:6 says, “God settles the solitary in a home…”

Where has God provided home for you? Where can you provide the goodness of home for others? 

Faithfulness: Frankincense 

Frankincense is an aromatic resin that comes from the boswellia tree. Another one of the items gifted to Jesus by the magi.

In my research, one of the first articles I read was an article on how frankincense has anti-tumor properties.

That got me thinking about the opposite of faithfulness: unfaithfulness, acting disloyal or false.

Betrayal and corruption can be like a cancer within a relationship or community. So many people report walking away from their faith because of church hurt and feeling betrayed when someone preached good but perpetrated harm. Relationships can feel irreparably damaged after they’re tinged with deceit.

That’s why faithfulness is so important.

Building this character aspect within us allows us to be the same people in public as we are when no one else is around. Jesus was someone who spoke truth and lived it. We want to emulate that.

Where have you felt hurt by others acting unfaithfully towards you?

Take time to sit with the Holy Spirit and ask to see in that memory where God was walking with you through that experience. There may be an opportunity for healing or forgiveness, or to start that journey. 

Have you been unfaithful towards others? Take time to work that through with the Lord and those people, too!

Self Control: Aloe 

Aloe is a plant I’m familiar with as someone who loves spending time outdoors.

I grew up putting aloe on my sunburns after a long day at the beach. So when I think of aloe, I think of something that soothes.

Self-control can soothe as well. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft word turns away wrath.”

And in the same way aloe can soothe someone in pain, knowing when to speak and how to lean on the Holy Spirit for what to say can bring calm and healing to interpersonal situations that may be tense or inflamed.

Just like a sunburn may cause someone to feel pain, people can feel relationally “burned”. Self control can help start the journey of reconciliation.

What examples in your life can you think of where self control acted like a soothing agent within an irritated situation?

Are there any areas where you want more self control? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you act with more self control when those moments arise. 

Download a printable PDF of this blog to take with you on your trip!

Here’s more…

• 5 Devotionals for Your Outdoor Adventure Trip
• Lessons from the Pearl
• How God Speaks through Signs in the Heavens

The post 9 Free Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Parallels of God’s Character 

There are so many places in the world and in life where God’s character is represented.

I love when God’s character represented in the natural world parallels something that’s true about our faith walk as well.

To me this points to God being steadfast and unchanging. That we would find these similarities consistent across so many diverse areas of the world.

One of the aspects of nature I admire is how mollusks take irritations and turn them into pearls.

People have viewed pearls as valuable resource since Jesus walked the earth. That’s evident in the ways the Bible references pearls. The parable of The Pearl of Great Price uses the metaphor to communicate this.

Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting Girl With A Pearl Earring shows how they continue to be considered valuable and symbols of beauty throughout history. 

Let’s take a deeper look at ways pearls can teach us about our faith walk. We’ll see a couple places where the Bible mentions them.

Let your Light Shine 

A beautiful aspect of pearls is that they reflect light.

They amplify the light and bring a luminous quality to the air around them.

They interact with the light.

The light reveals unique qualities about their colors and the dynamic layers that lie within them.

Similarly, the Bible teaches that we as Christians are to amplify the light of Christ that lives within us and share it with the world around us.

We can let the love of Jesus bring out our unique giftings to demonstrate how diverse God’s gifts to the world are through us! 

Adaptation to Life 

Pearls take something irritating and turn it into something enduring and beautiful.

Pearls are formed when a piece of sand, food or parasite is covered by layers of the pearlescent material nacre. It’s made of a calcium-based chemical called aragonite. Pearls act as a protective mechanism so mollusks can continue to function the way they were made to function.

In a similar way, we can use the grace God gives us to respond to difficult situations so He can transform them into something beautiful.

This doesn’t mean we have to show up as “perfect” or think that “reflecting light” means to always be cheerful!

There are things in life that are HARD. We don’t have to make them look easy.

As Christians we will not always respond perfectly to situations where there’s pain or irritation. There’s grace to be human and to be imperfect.

However, we can know with certainty that when we’re experiencing something irritating or painful that God is with us. We can ask for the presence of God to be near us and cover us, like the pearlescent material covers the irritation. Then we can have the spiritual resources we need to continue through that situation.

And when we look back at how the unique contours of that season are reflected in our testimony, we’ll see them reflecting back the goodness of God that covered all of it.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 

What some might consider imperfections, we consider diversity and individuality.

Every pearl is different and is formed by the mollusk in which it lives.

We are all unique in how God made us—our talents and our personalities. So when we allow ourselves to be formed by Christ, we will all reflect the goodness of God in different ways—just like pearls come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. 

The Parable of The Pearl of Great Price 

In the Bible in Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus talks about pearls in a parable. He talks of a man who sells everything he owns to buy a valuable and rare pearl.

It says, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” 

In this story we see there’s one specific “pearl” that’s more valuable than others. That’s worth investing in.

A life of following Jesus is worth investing in. Our faith practice has beauty and value that will continue to be a worthwhile investment. It will continue to grow in value for as long as we pursue it. 

The Gates of Heaven

The Bible also mentions pearls in Revelation 21:21, saying they’re what the Gates of Heaven are made of.

I thought this was interesting because I believe there’s purpose to the many metaphors in the Bible and symbolism in the physical things that carry spiritual meaning.

I found a commentary on this verse I thought was worth including. The author Roger W. Lowther writes this:

“It’s fascinating, then, that pearls—formed from brokenness and suffering—symbolize the perfection of the kingdom of heaven, for no one can enter its celestial city without first walking through its ‘pearly gates.’ ”

The commentary goes on to talk about how this metaphor points to us walking with God through our lives regardless of the season, and the way this points to the grace of God in the gospel story.

[Read the rest of Mr. Lowther’s article about pearls here.]

As you look around your world today, where can you ask God to cover situations with grace, like mollusks cover irritations with nacre?

How can you ask people to help you in this?

I think sometimes God wants to use faith communities to be nacre for each other—applying strength where we would not find it on our own.

How can you pursue and invest in your relationship with God like the merchant pursuing and purchasing The Pearl of Great Price? 

(Sources referenced for this article: Smithsonianmag.com, mtw.org)

Here’s more…

• Daily Bread: Our Enjoyment of the Outdoors • Our Enjoyment of God
• Hearing God Speak in the Outdoors
• How to Use a Daily Devotional

The post What Valuable Lessons Pearls Can Teach Us first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Sometimes you don’t want to do a full study and just want something you can bring along on a road trip or while you’re traveling.

Something short enough you can print out or screenshot each one and have close by on your phone. 

Whether you like to do your devotionals at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, or sometime in between.

Whether you want to have them for yourself or use them as conversation starters with a group. 

These short but deep devotionals are designed to give you an accessible way to connect with God and with your love for nature while on the go—whether that’s on a backpacking trip or on your lunch break at the office (dreaming of your next backpacking trip!). 

[Want a free downloadable PDF of these 5 quick devos without the photos? Click here.]

Day 1: For the Beauty of the Earth 

Such an integral part about being in nature is our enjoyment of the beauty that surrounds us. There is such a broad variety of beautiful natural scenes that we can visit.

Some people love the mountains, other people dream of their next trip to the sea, while others feel at home in the heat of a desert sunset.

When we look at the amazing variety of different biomes and natural spaces, it shows us how vast God is as Creator.

It demonstrates how creative God is, and how intentional God is that each of these spaces would work together as ecosystems with so many details helping everything flow together in unity and symbiosis.

Questions:

• What natural spaces speak to you?
• Why do you think that is?
• What characteristics of God are speaking to you right now?
• How do you see them reflected in the nature around you? 

Day 2: Joy in the Journey

A unique aspect of spending time outdoors is that the entire experience has value.

There are so many areas of life where the focus is on the end goal, or the finish line.

However in a backpacking trip, the trail is the experience as well as the destination. On a paddle trip, the goal isn’t just to get to your destination but to enjoy every bit of the experience between the start and the end.

It is a unique skill, to learn how to take in your experience and enjoy the journey. When we do this, we are able to teach our brains to be looking for the small details and the beautiful sights that we might otherwise miss.

And we can do this in our lives, too. We can look for the small details of our days that bring so much joy into otherwise mundane tasks.

Question:

• Where can you look for beautiful details in your journey today? 
• Or if your day is almost over: What beautiful details did you see in today’s journey?

Day 3: Grateful 

Every time I get to be in nature, I find myself thanking God for the gift of that time and that experience.

I also find myself thanking God for the people who are with me on that adventure.

We see in scripture that nature is often given as a reason to thank God or a reason to praise God.

Psalm 104:24-25 is a great example of this!

“Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.”

Question:

As you take a moment to sit in silence and observe your surroundings, what can you thank God for today? 

Day 4: False Peaks 

Life has so many twists and turns that are often unseen.

When we persevere towards an objective through hardship and obstacles it can be difficult to not be discouraged when we think we are close to the end, but realize we still have quite a ways to go.

I experienced this once in a practical way while climbing Cloud Peak in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains.

From far away it looked like a straight shot to the summit, only to realize there are a few false peaks that obstruct your view of the actual summit on the last part of the ascent.

This can happen in life, too!

You think you are close to a goal or close to the end of a stressful or season of life, only to turn a corner and realize there is still some time before you can consider this journey completed.

Maybe it’s something you chose that is still challenging, like school or having kids. Maybe it’s something grief-filled like illness or loss.

God wants to be with you in those seasons, and wants to carry the burden of that disappointment with you.

Questions:

• Where in your life have you been disappointed by “false peaks”?
• Where do you sense God is partnering with you to carry the weight of that season? 

Day 5: Unique Giftings 

The Bible says that you were knit together in your mother’s womb. That you were made intentionally and purposefully and with love.

Psalm 139:13 says: “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

God made each of us unique with different strengths, weaknesses and perspectives. Both in our faith walk and in outdoor adventures we see these unique differences provide us with an opportunity to grow deeper into relationships and community.

As a practical example—I’m not very tall so on Boundary Waters trips I offer to carry the packs, and someone who’s taller gets to portage the canoe.

We use our gifts to help the trip run more smoothly and efficiently.

You bring something that no one else can bring, whether it’s your sense of humor or a skill set you have.

Spend some time asking God and listening for a response about these…

Questions:

• What characteristics and giftings do you have?
• Are you sharing these, or is something getting in the way of that?
• Where can you lean on the giftings of others? 

Wrapping Up

It’s five days later. How did these devotional times go for you?

Do you have a specific length of trip you’re planning and would like help with devotionals?

Or is there a specific topic or focus that you think would be interesting?

Email us and let us know! Or find us on Facebook or Instagram to join the conversion online in a community of like-minded outdoorsy folks! 

[Get these five quick devos in a free downloadable PDF.]

Here’s more…

• 20 Meaningful Bible Verses about Nature
• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Here are 5 Devos for Your Next Outdoor Trip first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

The Outdoors: A Place to Return To

Generally, people who enjoy spending time in nature and the outdoors prefer to engage in those outdoor activities repeatedly.

I’ve never heard an outdoor enthusiast say, “Yeah, I went hiking once, and that’s all I need. I won’t need to go hiking ever again.”

When we talk about spending time in green and blue spaces and being outside, it’s an ongoing engagement with these spaces.

For many of us, spending time in nature has been a conversation between us and nature that we’ve been having for years—even decades!  We return to these places and these activities over and over again because of what they mean to us.

They are stabilizing. Life-giving. They are joy-infusing and healing. 

The Outdoors: A Place that Heals and Replenishes

There are definitely times when I feel like I’ve been away from nature for too long. It’s like something in me is depleted.

In seasons of my life when I’m not outside enough, I often find myself to be more tired. To lack motivation to engage in daily movement. I’ve forgotten how fortifying and renewing it is to get outside and be in nature, even if it’s just for a short amount of time!

Newton’s laws of motion state that an object in motion stays in motion, and I think that applies here too.

A person who prioritizes time outdoors will keep going outdoors. Momentum matters when it comes to building healthy habits. 

The Benefits are Expansive

We see this supported in science as well that consistently spending time in the outdoors is good for our mental health, our physical health, our sleep and so much more!

Read more about that here, in a great article by the United States Forest Service. And for any of you who like to dive a little deeper and see the science, here is a research article published by the National Institute of Health.

God: A Relationship that Heals and Replenishes 

This is similar to the way Jesus talks about our faith as well.

In the Bible, Jesus talks about God being our provider. When He was on the earth with the disciples, they depended on God for providence and care in a variety of ways.

Jesus didn’t say, “Pray once and then you’re all good.” In Matthew 6, when Jesus is teaching the disciples the way to pray, He includes the line, “Give us today our daily bread.”

This implies that if we’re getting our daily bread today, we’ll also need to ask for it tomorrow, and the next day and the next. It reinforces the importance of a daily prayer practice even though that may look drastically different from person to person.

In the Old Testament when God was providing for the Hebrews, the instructions were to collect the manna daily. Any they tried to save overnight became rotten.

God promises to be our provider, too. And as we sustain that relationship we see that play out in our lives in miraculous ways! 

So we repeatedly seek out nature for the positive benefits it gives us (which in turn is seeking out God because God made nature to bless us in those ways!)…

And we repeatedly seek out connection and relationship with the God of the universe who made us and who is continually renewing our strength and giving us the grace and mercy needed for our lives. 

Never Too Late 

Just like it’s never too late to start having an ongoing conversation with God, it’s never too late to start spending time in nature!

If you have wanted to spend more time outdoors consistently, I encourage you to start small and find activities that work for your lifestyle and schedule. Don’t compare yourself to other people when it comes to how you engage with the natural world around you.

[Sometimes, finding a group to join can help, too!]

In the same way, if you’re learning how to experience the daily bread that comes with spending time with God:

• It works to start small
• Don’t compare your faith walk and experience with others
• Find others to encourage you in your spiritual journey

Dig Deeper

Read the story of God providing the Hebrews with manna in the wilderness in Exodus 16. Reflect on what resources you’re being asked to depend on God for daily in this season.

Is it grace? Is it faith? Is it a fruit of the Holy Spirit? 

Here’s more…

• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• How to Widen Your Tent Pegs
• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Daily Bread: Enjoy God in the Outdoors first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

One of the stories that’s part of the journey to Jesus’ birth is the parallel miraculous birth story of John, born to Elizabeth and Zechariah.

In this post, I specifically want to focus on Zechariah’s silence. 

Luke 1

I’ve read the story in Luke 1 so many times. But I’ve only recently started to see it in a new way.

In this story, Zechariah is chosen to enter a holy space in the temple before God. He has an encounter with an angel who gives him a prophecy. His wife will have a child that’s conceived miraculously despite her advanced (menopausal implied) age.

He asks the angel about this and shares his doubts. In response, the angel tells Zechariah he will be unable to speak until his child is born. 

Reframing Silence 

Zechariah is merely human, just like you and me. I probably would’ve had the same response if I were in his shoes.

Needing comfort and reassurance in the face of long-time disappointment is such a normal human experience. I had always previously seen Zechariah’s silence as a punishment from God to Zechariah.

However, I’ve recently been seeing it instead as a loving invitation to a season of deep connection. Of deeper relationship with God.

I don’t think God expected Zechariah to have a different “more holy” or superhuman response. I think God knew Zechariah needed to share the pain and doubt in his heart. The temple was where he was familiar with the practice of being honest with God.

I don’t think God wants to punish us when we’re honest. I do think God wants to enter into those places where our faith needs to be strengthened. These places of pain can become places of wisdom and testimony.

I think that is what happened in Zechariah’s story.  

Silence in Nature 

When I thought of this story and how it connects to my own faith practice, the first thing that came to mind was how much I value the silence that comes when I spend time in nature.

When I’m in the woods, much of the static and background noise in my mind fades away. I feel like in this space I can experience the still, small voice of my Heavenly Father.

I treasure time spent in nature because it increases my connection to God. And stillness and silence help strengthen that connection. I truly feel God meets me and speaks to me in the stillness of nature. 

So why then, in the story of Zachariah did I assume silence is merely a punishment rather than an invitation to enter into a holy season when God wants to speak?

To prepare Zechariah for the role of father and for spiritual growth, God gives him the blessing of silence for a season.

This speaks to us about how we can live into this idea of creating space for God to speak.

As we wait for God’s promises to be born in our lives, we can practice silence—whether for an hour, a day or a weekend. Maybe it looks like fifteen minutes of intentional stillness every morning for Advent? 

So Much Potential 

Since removing the punitive mindset from the way I read this story, I’ve pictured Zechariah’s nine months of silence and the beauty and intimacy with God that could have been birthed from that experience.

He was in a community that highly valued experiences with God. His silence was a sign of God’s influence in his life, not a sign of punishment.

His culture was very community-focused and also focused on faith being a unifying experience. I can imagine his fellow community members giving him tasks in this season that allowed him to lean into this journey with the Lord. They surrounded him at this time.

I can picture him being overwhelmed with the beauty of the sunrise when he wasn’t distracted by his normal morning noise.

I can picture him encountering the presence of the Lord in new and beautiful ways during daily tasks.

I can imagine his friends smiling at him, so excited for this season of growth. Knowing it may be hard but also blessed—because God is the one who gave the invitation. 

Daily Practical Application

So how can we observe and practice this in our lives?

I try to spend some time in the woods every year doing something contemplative that allows me to exist in a greater level of silence. Sometimes it’s as simple as a twenty-minute walk through my neighborhood. No headphones, no talking—just silence. 

There are also specific places designed for you to do this, though. Some locations are designed for silent retreats. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of these places are built in secluded and beautiful nature settings.

I spent a weekend at Wilderness Fellowship Ministries (Wisconsin) in a prayer cabin one fall experiencing God’s beauty. I intentionally practiced how to be still and silent, and ask for God to speak. Pacem in Terris (Minnesota) is another similar retreat center. Okontoe (Minnesota) is also a Christian ministry that has spaces for this type of activity. It’s also designed as a respite for ministry staff who need a place of healing. 

A couple of pictures I took while spending time at Wilderness Fellowship Ministries… 

Further Reflection 

When we see that someone is in a season of silence and honesty with the Lord, how can we support them? How can we walk alongside them in that silence so they know that they’re not alone? How can we honor people who’ve gone through seasons of doubt and pain, and have been faithful through it? 

Have there been seasons where you felt called into more time spent in stillness? Do you want to be more honest with God about your pain, but you haven’t been because you’ve been seeing God in a punitive light? How can you practice that honesty with God today? 

In this season of Advent, are there ways you can incorporate contemplation and silence into your daily life? Can you also incorporate nature into your daily life as well?

If you do, and you have a reflection—send it to us! We’d love to hear your experiences—how you practice this in your life today and the fruit the Lord brings from it! If there’s enough interest we’d love to write a follow-up post featuring you, our readers! 

Here’s more…

• What the Bible Says About Nature and Creation
• Can Rest Cause You to Thrive?
• Why Should We be Thankful People?

The post Zechariah’s Silence: Step Into the Waiting first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Do you have consistent parts of your daily routine? How does repetition change the way you see those activities, for example, a commute you make so often they all blend together?

Sometimes small details go unnoticed, especially when days get hectic.

Beauty is Everywhere 

Have you ever traveled and found yourself reflecting on the beauty of your trip once you returned home?

I recently traveled to Colorado to visit family and found myself continually enjoying the beauty of the nature around me. Specifically, I found myself appreciating being surrounded by views of mountains. It so starkly differs from the Minnesota views that exist at much lower elevations.

I love the beauty of Minnesota’s natural resources, and I also love seeing beauty in other places. But I realized how much more aware I was of my surroundings because they were something that I don’t often get to see. 

My cousin and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park to hike, explore and look for wildlife (from a safe distance). The views of the mountains were so fun for me! And they prompted me to think about how I perceive the views I see out my windows daily at home. 

Just a couple of the stunning views I enjoyed while visiting family in Colorado. These were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park 

Do I think about my drive the same when it’s a view I get to see every day?

That thought started me on a journey of wondering where I could find the same experience of beauty in my ordinary environment. And how to continue to notice beauty in the ordinary of my everyday routines. 

Finding Beauty that Gives Joy 

Sometimes we get so used to something in our world that we forget to notice its beauty. This brings to mind the practice of gratitude and how developing a daily practice of gratitude is so good for our mental health.

It also brings to mind how God talks in the Bible about giving us our daily bread. This daily bread can relate to physical providence, but it also applies to emotional and spiritual needs as well.

God has made this world so intentionally. And because of that, there’s beauty woven into so much of the world around us! God is also so intentional with us. I believe when we see beauty in our ordinary lives it’s a sign of God’s love for us.

The Bible also talks about how the flowers of the field are dressed gloriously and fit for a king. While this talks about trusting God for provision, I think it also shows the beauty in the details. How God means for us to take time to see the beauty in the details of the world around us. 

How to Search for Joy and Beauty in the Everyday 

I’ve started being more intentional in looking for these little moments. Some people call these a “glimmer” that can infuse joy into our daily lives and ground us—even if we are experiencing stress or struggle.

These are the daily small moments that shine through and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

And for me, these moments often are nature-themed in some way.

Whether it’s the sunrise on the way to work, a beautiful flower pushing up through the cracks in the sidewalk, or dew drops on a spiderweb on the railing as I leave my apartment building to go to work.

The mundane can be sacred, and it can be important to combine those areas of life in our minds. Just like we don’t have to wait until we’re in an organized service to engage in worshiping God, we don’t have to wait to appreciate nature until we’re out of our normal lives and environments.

We can see it every day. In choosing to notice small glimmers of joy and beauty throughout the day, we’re choosing to cultivate a practice of small moments of worship scattered throughout the day.

This practice helps continually remind us of God’s goodness and presence.

When we train our minds to look for those beautiful details and connect them to a practice of gratitude and worship, we’re training our brains to “meditate on things above” (Colossians 3). To include God in the day-to-day moments instead of disconnecting our life from our faith in those moments. 

Don’t Wait for the Next Big Trip

I may not always be able to plan big trips. Or get away from life to be in the wilderness for long stretches at a time. Most people, like me, have responsibilities like work and families that have us engaged in our daily lives.

Rather than waiting for the next big trip, how can we take the wonder we’re used to experiencing in other places and look for places to experience that wonder in our daily lives?

I know for me, sunrises and sunsets never cease to amaze me with beauty. They leave me feeling joyful and even giddy!

I always listen for the first thunderstorm of spring, because I don’t hear thunder all winter long. So for me, it’s a sign the seasons are really turning and spring is here! 

Finding Joy and Beauty with Others 

This is also a great practice to teach to kids!

Kids are already so curious and so apt to notice details. As we introduce our kids to God and the enjoyment of being in nature, we can show them these little moments in life are moments to choose worship and express gratitude to God for the beauty of the world He’s given us.

These brief but impactful moments of encountering God’s beauty in the world and love for us also remind me of the importance of child-like faith. So when I practice them with the kids in my life, it makes the wonder of the moment that much greater. 

These glimmers can also be shared. Do you have a friend or accountability partner to whom you can send pictures of your little moments? Or if you know special things that make their heart glad, how can you be watching to send glimmers to the people you love? 

Reflection

How can you look for beauty in places that seem mundane and might be overlooked? 

Where can you find the beauty of nature in your everyday activities? 

Here are the verses I used in the article in case you want to reflect on them further: 

• Colossians 3:1-2
• Matthew 6:11
• Matthew 6:28-31

Here’s more…

• Find Your Way to “Hidden” Beauty
• Why Beauty Matters to Us
• He Gives Power to the Weak

The post Don’t Forget to Find Beauty in Everyday Life first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

It’s Thanksgiving week in America as I write this. Ironic that this annual holiday is sandwiched—and often eclipsed—between marketing campaigns for us to buy, buy, buy. Reminders we don’t have enough yet.

While I’m as likely as anybody to try to snag a good deal, I try to stay focused on the reason we celebrate this holiday—that we should be and can be thankful for so many things.

Thankful every day, not just on Thanksgiving.

Key Bible Verses about Thankfulness

There are two answers to the Why—Why should we be thankful people?

1. God commands it! That should settle it for those of us who call ourselves Christians.
2. Jesus made a way for us to come out of the kingdom of darkness and into His kingdom of light! That alone should make us thankful people every single day, even if everything else is a disaster.

But there’s a third answer too—because it’s so good for us! Thankfulness produces a ton of benefits for us.

We’ll explore them in detail below. First, though, let’s review just a few of the many Bible verses about thankfulness:

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 16:34—”O give thanks to God for He is good. For His lovingkindness endures forever.”

Psalm 7:17—”I will give thanks to God according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of God Most High.”

Psalm 95:2-3—”Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For Jehovah is a great God and a great King above all gods.”

Psalm 100:4—”Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, and bless His name.”

Psalm 106:1—”Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1 repeats it)

New Testament

1 Corinthians 15:57—”But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:18-20—”…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God…”

Colossians 3:15—”And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.“

Colossians 4:2—”Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving…”

Philippians 4:6—”In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18—”In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.”

Thankfulness Helps Keep Our Focus on Jesus

In my own life experience, the most important reason to keep thankfulness front-and-center is that it keeps my eyes on Jesus instead of whatever it is I’d rather be unthankful about.

Have you ever found that focusing on what’s wrong rarely makes it right? I’ve found that when I go to Jesus with a humble and thankful heart, He’ll either provide a solution, give me the grace to deal with it, or move on, despite it.

Thankfulness to Jesus helps keep our focus on Jesus. It helps us love Him more—what the Bible says needs to be our #1 priority. Loving God.

Thankfulness for other people—even hard people—is a key that can unlock healing, reconciliation, patience, endurance, a different perspective. It leads us to prayer.

Thankful in hard situations is one of the toughest places to stay. But it’s possible with the Holy Spirit’s help. I’ll never forget reading this story from The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom:

Corrie and her sister Besty were in a Nazi concentration camp during World War 2. Conditions were unspeakable. Corrie told Betsy she just couldn’t be thankful for the lice that infested their barracks. But Betsy assured her it was possible, so they thanked the Lord even for the lice.

It wasn’t long before the sisters realized the camp guards wouldn’t go near their barracks because of the lice. So Corrie and Betsy were able to freely share Jesus with the other women prisoners, to pray with them and study the Bible with them.

Wow! God can work in any situation. Thankfulness is a key to allowing Him freedom to do that.

Thankfulness Benefits Us in So Many Ways

God created us—He knows what we need to thrive!

Here are some of the benefits found by researchers that thankful, grateful people have:

• Thankful people are happier than unthankful people.
• A habit of thankfulness helps reduce depression, and can even help prevent it.
• People who are habitually thankful experience less anxiety and fear.
• Thankfulness helps build the emotional resilience we need to deal with life’s challenges.
• Not surprisingly, thankful people tend to be less focused on themselves and more focused on others. This others-focus makes them more likely to support the people around them—their family, work mates, friends, faith group and community.
• Thankful people tend to have a more restful inner life.

Those are amazing spiritual, mental and emotional benefits! Here are some of the benefits for our physical body (again, these are researched):

• Thankful people tend to engage in fewer, if any, destructive behaviors like substance abuse, stress eating and not taking care of themselves.
• They’re more likely to eat well and exercise or be active. These two habits are so important for our overall health.
• They tend to experience less inflammation and pain.
• Thankfulness lowers cortisol levels, often called the stress hormone.
• Thankful people tend to fall asleep faster and sleep better overall. This is another vital element for overall good health.

[I found much of the above information in these articles: “How to Foster Gratitude” WebMD.com • “Why Gratitude isn’t Just for Thanksgiving” time.com • “Thanksgiving Science: Why Gratitude is Good for You” livescience.com]

Interestingly, being in nature gives us many of those same benefits. The Lord has filled this earth with so many things to be thankful for.

When you’re outside hiking or biking, paddling or camping—or whatever it is you love to do—thank God for what He’s created.

Grumbling: The Opposite Spirit

One of the most unthankful groups of people in the Bible was the Hebrews who the Lord delivered out of Egyptian slavery. Their story is in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

God did the most astounding miracles for them and around them. And yet, when they had to face the next hard thing, their immediate reaction was to grumble and complain.

Even with all the ways they’d seen God deliver them—with their own eyes—they forgot all that. Here’s just one example, in Numbers 14:2-3:

“All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘We wish that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that we had died in this wilderness! Why does Yahweh…[fill in the blank!]?’ “

Every time I read these stories it convicts me!

It’s SO easy for me to start grumbling as soon as things don’t go my way. I’ve been working (with the Holy Spirit!) on this in me for years. I don’t want to encourage this spirit of grumbling—the opposite of thankfulness—because it’s not from God. It’s from the pit of hell.

We often look at complaining as just weakness. “It’s not really sin, I’m just having a bad day.”

But God takes it very seriously. It’s demonic, no matter how benign it may seem. It takes our eyes off God. It shipwrecks faith. It gives the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).

How to Develop a Thankfulness Habit

There are a ton of ideas out there for how to become a thankful person. For most of us, it means being intentional.

Some people love to journal. If that’s you, make or buy a Gratitude Journal and write something in it every day. Maybe it’ll be during your devotional time with the Lord, maybe before you go to bed.

Don’t forget to be thankful for the basics: You’re breathing. You woke up this morning. I assume people reading this live in First World countries so you probably have a roof over your head and food on your table.

Make a habit of saying “Thank you” with a smile every single time anyone does something for you—and don’t forget your family! If you’re having a bad day, do it anyway. No exceptions.

If you’re married, look for things to be thankful for in your spouse. If you have children, look for things to be thankful for in them. And tell them, either out loud or in a note or card. You can do the same with roommates, co-workers, teachers and classmates.

Most importantly, read through those Bible verses we listed earlier in this post. Memorize them and pray them to God. Thank God every day for something, anything, everything.

One of the easiest ways for me to drag myself out of a grumbling mood is to put on my Worship Mix list on iTunes (these aren’t just Christian songs, but worship songs that focus on the Lord) and play them—loud!

It isn’t long before it’s easy for me to say “Thank You, Jesus!” and really mean it. So often it’s simply a change of perspective. Seeing things from His point of view instead of mine.

How about you? How’s your thankfulness meter today?

Here’s more…

• Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
• Volunteer to Make a Difference with Outdoor Ministries
• The Many Benefits of Nature

The post Why Should We Be the Most Thankful People of All? first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

“The Lord deserves praise! Day after day He carries our burden, the God who delivers us. Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.”

Psalm 68:19-20 (NET)

Our bodies are made to work in a specific way. The science of kinesiology has made so many amazing discoveries in this area!

There are ways we can use our bodies that lead to increased strength. And ways we can use our bodies that can lead to injury and weakness.

Athletes, trainers, adventurers and guides alike will tell you that proper form can be the difference between completing an activity successfully and not being able to complete it.  

Proper Form for a Kayak Trip 

I was so excited to go on a kayaking trip in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior with a group of women and fantastic guides from Whitecap Kayak.

The first thing we did before we even got on the water was learn how to properly hold a kayak paddle. We practiced on shore the beginning elements of a proper stroke.

Our guides continued to provide instruction, give tips for improvement and teach additional skills throughout the course of the trip.

This approach not only made the activity more enjoyable for us, it was also for safety. Poor form increases the risk of injury, and also increases the risk that something may go wrong.

For example, not knowing how to paddle effectively could cause a capsize or render your paddling ineffective during bad weather. 

Proper Form Increases Resilience

Before this trip, I would notice my muscles fatigue very quickly when paddling a kayak or canoe. I would quickly develop painful blisters that further decreased my paddling effectiveness.

I very quickly learned that paddling is not supposed to be like that!

I simply did not know proper paddle form. It was causing injury to me and making paddle experiences much more strenuous than necessary. 

During that kayak trip, I challenged myself to start slow and really learn how to paddle correctly. I was able to paddle stretches of seven and nine miles at a time. Something I could not have done when I didn’t know the proper way to paddle!

I was tired, but I didn’t stress my muscles to the point of injury. My joints and muscles didn’t hurt. I no longer got painful blisters on my hands!

I was so thankful to wake up the next morning feeling rejuvenated and rested. I was able to repeat similar mileage with no strain on my body that would cause injury. 

Paddling long distances is so much more enjoyable when I’m not experiencing injury and fatigue from incorrect paddling!

Proper “Form” for Life

In thinking about this skill set in the outdoor world, I realized this experience can translate to our spiritual walk as well.

The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 (NIV): “They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Our spiritual walk with the Lord and with the people around us is not always easy. It challenges us. However, not everything that’s a challenge has to feel exhausting or damaging.

We can persevere and still be able to continue on the next day. God gives us the tools we need to continue to grow, live with joy, and thrive through challenges.

Increasing Spiritual Resilience

What I am ultimately saying is that “proper form” increases resilience.

When we have the right “form” of leaning on Christ, what could be too hard or cause emotional or spiritual injury becomes possible.

It doesn’t mean it’s not hard. But it means we can do it because we are working our spiritual muscles the right way.

There are so many areas of our lives where it can be easy to carry intense situations the wrong way which can be detrimental to our emotional and spiritual health.

I believe God has a good plan for us that includes having the resources we need to complete the tasks set before us and build spiritual and emotional strength and resilience. 

This can look different for each individual’s personal needs. However, there are some general things that strengthen emotional health and faith practices.

A few starting ideas could be:

• Self-care
• Spending time outside
• Spending time in faith practices such as reading the Bible, prayer, and worship
• Nervous system regulation activities like guided breathing
• Professional support like therapy
• Relational support like faith community groups. 

During the day while we paddled I knew there would be an end to the day. My body would be able to rest after doing this good but hard work.

And we see this in our faith, as well.

We set our eyes upon the prize and are encouraged through Paul’s words when he writes to the church in Philippians 3:14, to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Questions for Meditation or Group Discussion

Does this resonate with you? Here are some discussion topics for your personal time or with a group to explore integration and next steps:

• Are there areas of your spiritual or emotional life that feel like you can relate to “not knowing how to paddle correctly”?
• With other safe people or in quiet time with God, do any ideas come up for how God can help you address where you’re seeing space for more support or resilience?  

Here’s more…

• We Can Be in Peace During Life’s Storm
• How God Uses Wilderness to Shape Us
• Build Christian Community with a Kayak Trip

The post Paddling Through Life: How to Build Resilience first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

“He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.” Isaiah 40:29

“I can’t do this!”

I don’t think the sentiment, “I can’t do this!” is exclusive to me. We all have areas where we are challenging ourselves to grow, and outdoor activities often test us physically and mentally.

For me, this is often due to unforeseen circumstances or challenging terrain.

As outdoor explorers, we’ve faced moments when we question if we can go any further. Whether it’s putting that canoe up on my shoulders to portage it one more time or pushing through the last and steepest part of the trail to get to the summit.

It’s in those moments we take inventory of our internal resources and choose to push through even when it’s hard.

The experience at the end was more rewarding because we pushed ourselves and challenged ourselves when it was hard.

And sometimes it’s just step by step. I don’t always know if I can finish the challenge, but I ask myself; “Can I go five more minutes? Can I take one more step? Make it to that tree on the horizon?”

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat. 

My “Weak Yes”

We also have these moments in life and in our faith. Moments of being overwhelmed or feeling weakened by life’s challenges.

It’s in those seasons I’ve been learning how God wants to partner with me and ask for my weak yes. We see this not only in our own lives but also in the lives of those whose struggles and victories are recorded in the Bible.

There are so many stories when we see people taking their circumstances step by step, acknowledging their weaknesses, and leaning on God to fill the gap between the promise and the real life occurring in front of them. 

Queen Esther’s “Weak Yes”

One of these is the story of Esther. There are so many places in the story of Esther where she made incredibly courageous decisions. She isn’t the only person in the story, but for today’s purpose, we’ll focus on her.

Esther didn’t see the end from the beginning of the story that was her life. She said yes to those moments one at a time, and gave her weak yes.

Elisabeth Elliot quoted a poem dating back to 1897 by Eleanor Amerman Sutphen called Ye Nexte Thynge. She calls this type of action “do(ing) the next right thing.” She didn’t have the final answer at the beginning of the intense season, just the next step.

Here’s another moment of pushing through an outdoor challenge:

Esther’s Example

I’ve thought about that perspective of Esther often in this last season of life I’ve been in.

I picture her having no idea what to do about the insurmountable challenge facing her people. Choosing to believe that God truly is who He says He is. Choosing to fast and pray for three days not knowing what would happen after that.

I picture her standing before the doors of the throne room, taking one last deep breath before pushing those doors open. Then focusing all of herself on just taking one step at a time toward the king.

I’ve found strength in this idea of her giving her weak yes, and God giving her the courage needed to just keep taking the next step. 

Esther carried something deep within her that allowed her to take her journey step by step. And it’s also what allows us to take the next step—both in outdoor challenges and in our faith walks.

This is our knowledge of our identity in Christ and our knowledge of who God is.

What Does God Ask For?

The difference between Esther’s story and yours is that hers is written down and retold, and yours is known by you. There’s no other difference.

We are all children of God with the same inherent identity that gives us the same strength that she had to keep giving her weak yes to God. 

We Don’t Need to Do It on Our Own

Not only in the context of community and people around us, but I also truly believe that in difficult challenges outdoors, God has been there to help me persevere and grow in discipline and character.

Just like I believe God has been there to help me in seasons where my weak yes is so insufficient to meet the needs and challenges facing me.

Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s Word and Spirit will not be sent out and return void. This means there’s a relational covenant that God has made with you, and God will bring your identity to pass.

It’s not a heavy burden for you to turn yourself into a project. To see your spiritual life as a to-do list. Nor is there pressure to meet a standard of perfection or performance. 

I’ve found that in the moments of doubt, grief or struggle, where I can’t imagine going forward, my weak yes does make a difference.

All God Asks For is Everything I Can Give

And while that initially sounds like a contradiction, I’ve found this to be the most freeing thought. Because when all I can give God is a weak yes, more is not demanded of me.

In that moment, God’s strength is there to complete my weakness.

As I look back on my testimony, I see many moments when my weak yes allowed God to shepherd me through a season I would otherwise not have made it through.

It has also sheltered my faith in seasons when I felt like I was drowning in doubt and struggling to hold onto my faith. I didn’t prevail in my strength alone.

And on my weakest of days, that’s when God is the strongest. And on those days I have truly learned that my God fights for me.

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat. 

Ways to Respond

I pray that if you’re weary today, you’ll find rest in our God who’s strong enough for your weak yes. 

As you think about this idea, see below a few questions to ask yourself as a journal prompt or devotional, or with people you trust in a Bible study or discussion group.  

• Think about the statement: “All that God asks for you is everything I have to give.” What emotions does that bring up in you?
• What does God want to say to you about where you’re striving to give more than you can give?
• How can God give you rest as you say yes in weakness?
• As you reflect on the story of Esther, where do you see God fulfilling the promise of being strength in her weakness?
• Where can you give God your weak yes today?
• Where in your testimony have you seen God be your strength?

This content is adapted from the devo of April 5 from Heaven and Nature Sing. Photos courtesy of Emilie O’Connor, Sharon Brodin and Shannon McAfee 

Here’s more…

• How God Designed Healing Differently
• Find Your Way to “Hidden” Beauty
• How to Use a Daily Devotional

The post God Gives Power to the Weak and Weary first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Anything like this: “Yeah, that’s easy for you to say!” “Are you kidding me?” “How can my heart not be troubled? You don’t know my life!”

We live in a troubled, anxious, fearful, often angry world. And yet Jesus is the one talking here: “Don’t let your heart be troubled.”

How is that possible? Let’s look at the deeper meaning.

What is My “Heart”?

Culturally, when we hear the word heart we think of feelings. So when someone says, “What does your heart tell you?” they mean, “What do your feelings tell you?”

That’s not what Jesus means here, though.

The Greek word translated heart in this verse is kardia. That word is talking about the inner life of our mind, will, intentions, desires and decisions. Our feelings are part of that, but the heart isn’t driven by our feelings.

The Greek word translated troubled in this verse is tarassó—put in motion, agitate, stir up, shake. So Jesus is saying we have control—decision-making power—over our heart. “Don’t let your heart be troubled…”

When Outer Trouble = Inner Trouble

Animals can’t do this—they’re controlled by instinct. A deer can be at perfect peace until it senses a threat. Then it won’t be at peace again until it senses that threat is gone.

Water is like that, too. A lake in an atmosphere of calm is calm. When there’s no wind, the surface of the lake is glasslike—calm enough to see a perfect reflection. But when the wind comes, the surface of the lake gets stirred up, agitated, troubled. The stronger the wind—the outside circumstance—the more it’s stirred up.

Most people are like that, too. Their inner life is at peace if everything around them is at peace.

But Jesus is saying it doesn’t have to be that way for those of us who follow Him. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we’re to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

That’s powerful! And possible.

When Outer Trouble Doesn’t Shake Inner Peace

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

When we read Jesus’ entire statement we get a clue as to how we’re able to keep our heart (our mind, will, decision-making inner self) from being troubled—it’s by believing in God the Father and in Jesus our Savior.

The Greek word translated believe here is pisteuó. It means to have faith in, to entrust, trust in, believe. We can’t have an untroubled heart in troubled circumstances without that.

And it’s not just a “Sure, I believe in God” kind of trust. It has to be a deep-down, entrenched, committed kind of trust.

Even Jesus’ disciples—the ones He’s talking to here—got very troubled in the next few days as Jesus was arrested, tried, whipped and crucified. They were still troubled after He rose from the dead. It wasn’t until a few weeks later when He sent the Holy Spirit to them that they were able to truly not be troubled.

Remember the lake in the section above? Without wind, a lake is calm enough to cast a perfect reflection. When the wind picks up, the surface becomes agitated and troubled. The greater the wind, the more the surface gets stirred up.

But like Jesus did in the storm with His disciples that night (Mark 4:35-41), when He lives in us, when we live in Him, we can say to the storm—the trouble—in our heart: “Peace! Be still.”

The Key to Inner Peace

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 gives us more insight into this. We can’t do this in our own strength or ability, but because we’re in Jesus. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God…” (verse 4).

This isn’t easy!

Remember, even Jesus’ disciples weren’t able to really get a hold of this until they were filled with the Holy Spirit a few weeks later.

That’s also the key for us—the filling of the Holy Spirit, abiding in Jesus (the Vine), a true entrusting of ourselves to the Father.

Not easy…but possible!

“My peace I give you…”

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

Jesus said it again: Don’t let your heart be troubled. In this verse He gives us even more hope, more insight into how this is possible for His followers—He leaves us with His peace.

The Greek word translated peace here is eiréné. Beyond a sense of quietness and rest, it implies a “joining together into a whole.” A wholeness, an inner security or assurance. Jesus had that because of His relationship with His Father. And the Holy Spirit makes it available to each of us.

Peace Amid Chaos

The picture that comes to my mind about this kind of peace was one I witnessed on a visit to Niagara Falls.

Millions upon millions of gallons of water rush over these falls. We were walking along the edge of the very brink (New York’s state park service did a fantastic job of providing walkways for an up-close-and-personal experience).

Out there on solid rock, surrounded by the rushing torrents on both sides, a small purple flower had bloomed.

This natural picture gave me such a sense of beauty and peace in the midst of very tumultuous circumstances. That little flower was able to grow and thrive there.

Jesus’ Peace is Robust

I love how The Living Bible paraphrases Jesus’ words in the verse above: “…the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives.”

Jesus’ peace—available to all His followers through the infilling of the Holy Spirit—is a vibrant, living peace. It’s a peace that’s powerful enough to displace agitation and fear in our hearts.

It’s a peace that’s not dependent on whether things around us are peaceful—that’s the fragile peace of the world.

No, it’s an inner assurance of our Lord’s reality, sovereignty and love. This peace is a fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Because of this peace we can obey Jesus’ instruction: “Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”

[This content was taken from the devotional book Heaven and Nature Sing, July 24, 25 and 26. The book is available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle.]

(The Living Bible is © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The other verses are taken from World English Bible, public domain.)

Here’s more…

• Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
• Why Symbiotic Relationships in Nature are So Cool
• Staying Active with Arthritis

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