Hebrew 12:11 “For the Moment too discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

God is not elusive

As I was sitting at my desk spending time with God, I heard the phrase in my head God is not elusive. Elusive means difficult to find, catch or achieve. That word elusive was familiar to me for some reason. And so I searched it in my notes app. My notes app is my digital journal where I write down my raw thoughts and poems. I remember writing a poem or something with that word. however, What the title of that poem was actually peace is not elusive. its an interesting cross section and the poem not exactly what I expected to find. But before I dive into that – here’s some context.

Dreams and Trusting God

For context, lately God has been speaking to me in my dreams. But often times, my dreams need interpretation. So I have been a bit intimidated. Sometimes ignoring those dreams completely. Now I realize not all dreams are from God. But I am learning the ones that are. SO when I feel like they are God dreams, I am learning to no longer run away and just ask and pray. As simple as this is- I truly am amazed at it. One dream I had last night. I didn’t understand it; but when I went to church an image of the dream came to mind and I understood it immediately. God was calling me out; which was actual an answer to my prayer for God to search my heart the night before! This reminds me that I can trust God. If he gives me a dream , he is speaking and wants me to know what he is saying. I am often afraid to ask because I am scared of judgment. But God disciplines those he loves. He prunes that I may bear much fruit. Pruning, although a cutting away, actually strengthens the plant to grow the capability to bear more fruit. its wild to think you need strength to bear more fruit- shouldn’t it be natural? But landscapers and gardeners know what it takes to grow things right and often times plants need correction too just like we do.

FInding God & Peace

So back to the phrase I heard before. God is not elusive. he is not hard to find. Jeremiah 29: 13, is a promise that if we seek God with our whole heart, we will find Him. God is not elusive, he wants to be found. And he gives us instructions to find him in this verse. Jeremiah 29:13″ You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” The instruction is clear. IF you want to find God, you must seek him wholeheartedly. You have got to seek him with everything you got. he doesn’t want your half baked desire. He wants all your heart. What does this have to do with my dreams and peace? If God is giving me a dream, he wants me to understand it. But if I want to understand it, I must seek him with all my heart. To seek God with all my heart means I must ask, seek and knock. This means if he doesn’t answer the first time- I am willing to ask again and again because I long for the answer. The dream interpretation isn’t just for my understanding, its to grow in intimacy with God. he is speaking with me but am I willing to seek him to understand?

When I first heard that phrase in my head- I looked up the word elusive. And the poem I wrote called ” Peace is not elusive” came up. it talks about peace not being elusive but the fruit of hard labor. As I read this poem it reminds me of a few truths. God is not elusive because he longs to be found. Peace is also not elusive – and you can find it. Isaiah 26:3 says ” You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because He trusts in you.” God gives peace to those who look to him. Peace is found in God’s presence. Yet it requires us to enter his presence and do the work of seeking. like a farmer does the work of telling, planting and water the seed. We seek and the Lord will be found. We plant the seed but the Lord alone gives the growth. There are steps of faith required to attain the peace we desire. There are actions we need to take to find God, to hear him on certain topics. The question is are we willing to pay the price to find God, and to acquire peace? it requires all of us, not just once but daily. The fruit of this is righteousness- but are we willing to pursue it? Only you can answer that. As you ponder that question, here is my poem. Peace is not Elusive

Peace is not elusive

Peace is not elusive

It is the fruit of hard labor

Disciplined fruit

Pruned back multiple times

A necessity for its ability to thrive 

Painful toil, sowed in tears

Yet reaped in joy

Letting the layers fall

Allowing transparency 

To show the weakness 

Allowing God’s strength 

To lift the weariness 

To walk in light 

No longer shy 

Of what might come

Knowing full well

Through many trials 

Who carries me

Peace is not elusive

But the fruit of the Spirit 

Not conjured up by my own strength 

But cultivated in Gods garden 

Trusting him that though painful

He works it all together

Peace is  not elusive 

But to look deeply into 

Fathers face

And know nothing 

can separate you

Peace is sure and certain of its destination 

Peace can stare hell in the face and see heaven waiting

I have longed to grasp its embrace

And at long last 

I’ve laid claim to it

Though not as I once supposed

Peace came at the cost of losing 

My facade , my defense in times of fear

And embracing truth 

 letting Go

And letting God draw  near

his nearness 

 Has brought  peace 

to my weary soul

We don’t have the strength 

To do the impossible

But we do know him

Who makes it so

Peace is not elusive 

But abundantly found 

In The presence of God