Women's Devo | January 2021

    
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Circumstantial peace comes easy. Life is good, there’s peace. Kids are doing good in school, there’s peace. Money in the bank, overwhelming peace, but what about now?

When life is tough, there’s chaos. Kids are reckless, I have endless anxiety. Scraping change together, I am fearful for tomorrow.

I have been convicted lately to realize that the Holy Spirit came to give us an everlasting peace. Jesus left earth so the Holy Spirit could be with us and bring constant peace, not just circumstantial. Peace doesn’t mean there won’t be tears or there won’t be the occasional worry but it means that even though it’s all going on there’s a helper, if I choose to point my eyes in his direction.

 There’s a book full of peace and solutions but sometimes it’s easier to scroll through the relentless darkness of social media and the lies we so easily become overwhelmed by. I like to believe that Mary the mother of Jesus might have known what it meant to have this kind of constant peace. She wept at the death of her son but she knew because he lived she could get up and continue to live. Because she had been in his presence she felt true peace. Even in his passing as she felt such deep sorrow I imagine she also felt a true peace because she knew he had accomplished what he came for. I cannot fathom the grief or pain but I know there was still peace. There can still be peace in our disappointment and in our trial. If we allow it in our lives this peace can be a mirror based on what our eyes are focused on. We must stay focused on the cross and the promise of this peace that transcends all understanding.

Tara Sharpe -  Tara is the State Girl's Ministries director here in South Georgia. Tara is the wife to Justin and they have two beautiful boys, Jaxon (4) and Jameson (2). Tara has a heart for ministering to girls of all ages. Through her ministry, countless lives have been changed. She also is an anointed worship leader. She has had the opportunity to lead worship throughout the country. Tara is an established song writer and enjoys every opportunity to share that passion.