Hello Friend,

I hope you are doing well. I know it’s been hard to feel peaceful lately. Lack of peace can affect so much of our physical and mental health. But you can trust The Lord Our Healer. So, today let’s talk Jehova Rophe.

I think it’s safe to say that time in history will be looked on as highly stressful, if nothing else. Wouldn’t you agree? Do you know how to find peace in circumstances beyond your control? It sounds like a self-help book title, I know, and we buy millions of them every year. But, unfortunately, while a book might provide quick and comforting answers, many of us pause too long at the comfort part.

We might look to food, drink, drugs, shopping, and even ministry work, searching for relief from our stressful lives. But any relief we find here is temporary. In the end, seeking comfort in the wrong places only leads to more stress, not peace. But these are just cheap Band-Aids, they don’t bring lasting healing. Instead, they only cover festering wounds that eventually bubble over into a full-blown puss-filled infection. Yuck!

You Can Trust The Lord Our Healer

Stress can lead to anxiety, especially when we focus on our problems. So don’t be so anxious that your ears stop working. When our heads are full of worry, emotions spin cotton balls and stuff them into spaces the Holy Spirit should occupy. Worrying says, “I can’t trust God.” That doubt only leads to more spinning. Been there, done that!

STOP! Breathe…pray…shhh…listen.

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. –Matthew 6:28-34 (NLT)

Believe the promise. Trust in God, the Promise-Keeper.

In Philippians, the apostle Pauls tells us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-7). That means NOTHING.

Bring everything to Jehova Rophe and let Him be your Healer. He doesn’t limit us. So you can tell Him anything. Be thankful knowing that He hears you, so listen to Him. The peace of God is more than we can comprehend, and it will guard your heart and mind if you just trust Him.

I know trust is hard, especially if you don’t know who you’re supposed to trust. But, thankfully, there’s a remedy readily available. Open your bible and start the conversation.

The Lord, our Healer, forgives all our sins, forgets all our faults, and is the only source of true healing (Psalm 103:3). Jehovah Rapha (Hebrew), the God who heals. Seek Him first, and don’t stop until you find Him. He’s already standing at the door. Can’t you hear Him knocking (Revelation 3:20)? He has a standing invitation to all. We need only accept it by faith, and the peace of Christ will follow.

You can trust in His promises.

Memory Verse

Try committing this short passage to memory. It’s the same as the one above, just in a different bible translation. Then anytime you begin to feel anxious, speak these words to yourself, and you’ll feel the anxiety begin to dissipate. Next, try repeating it a few times and see. You have nothing to lose and peace to gain. Now, this isn’t a magic pill. It’s more like practice makes perfect, so keep at it.

Be Anxious for nothing, but in everything by prays and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of  God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NASB)

Take care, my friend, and may the peace of Christ be yours today.

Suzette

Join me for this series, where we’ll explore the Names of God in letters to my friends, prayers, and excerpts from touching devotionals. I wrote a collection of prayers and words of encouragement to a dear friend and mentor struggling through an illness. My friend is fully recovered (praise the Lord), but I was so encouraged in the process that I wanted to share that encouragement with you. Click the link to access the Series Table of Contents. 

Click this link to find all the posts in the Names of God series.

Inspired by Tony Evans book, Praying Through The Names of God (2014, Harvest House Publishers)

This post is the first installment of the 31-Day Writing Challenge 2021.