How to Attain Perfect Peace

By: Carol McClain  carol_mcclain

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer 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” Phil. 4: 6-7.

A strange thing happened this last week.

As most of you know, I’m an author. I have three books on the market and a fourth one coming out June 21.

I’ve done all in my power to market and make my name known. Fruitful areas for others have been less productive for me. Strike one against me.

No matter how I tried, I couldn’t do a thing but fret about writing–what my next novel would be, who would publish it or even if I had the talent to call myself an author. Strike two.

Always, I prayed to put this into God’s hands. And, at last I did. Perhaps it was my third swing, expecting another strike-out because I’d tried (and failed) before. Last week I got to the point where I had no other recourse. I had to give to God the thing that meant the most to me. The end result is weird. No grief. No sorrow as in all the other times I’d “quit.” I didn’t quit. I gave it to God, and it’s freeing.

Still obsessed with writing, I no longer care whether my latest work (in the hands of Bob Hostetler of the Steve Laube agency) ever gets printed. Oh, I’d love to have so because my granddaughter helped with the research, and I want her name in the acknowledgements). If it doesn’t make it, I’ll write something else. I’ll turn back to magazines. I’ll write free devotions for CBN. Dig out my journals?

I know God directed my steps in my writing. He sent me Desert Breeze Publishing when I wanted to quit. He put Randy Cook, a former paramedic and wonderful critique partner for help with my latest work–The Poison We Drink  (no–not about our water supply–about forgiveness). My first novel would not have worked had God not sent the late Jackie MacGuyer to me. Each of my above examples is a 500 word blog post in itself. Every step of the way, He’s told me this is the way–walk in it.

Knowing for sure that I’m to write, I know His work won’t come back void. Nothing in this world is going to stop God from achieving His perfect plan.

If I trust all my ways to Him and lean not to my own understanding–I shall have perfect peace. (Prov. 3: 5-6 and Is. 26:3).

I have perfect peace now.

Tune in next week to see how I took it all back, but for now, I’m reveling in divine tranquility.

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