A guest post by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
Today, I am sharing an excerpt from a book that has been a long time in the making and is very different from any other book I’ve published.
On July 1, I will be releasing my first collection of devotionals, drawn primarily from three years of contributions to Alexis Goring’s Devotionals for the Heart. (You can find the link to Alexis’s website below!)
These devotionals are a product of my journey of learning to be real with God—to come before him in humble honesty rather than either pretense or surface-level prayers. It’s a product of the balance I’ve found in my own life, hating the show and legalism of many church settings and realizing that I am not someone who can do “all the things.”
I hope this thirty-day devotional will help readers become more honest in their prayers. It doesn’t take a lot of words or even a lot of time—it just takes “getting real with God.”
Peace
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
Have you ever read this verse and asked, “Lord, if I am supposed to have peace, why does peace feel so far away?” You might feel as though something is wrong with you because you don’t have that promised peace—you might even feel as though the lack of peace is your own fault.
Dear friend, do not let anyone convince you that your walk with God is the problem, that you are not trusting in Him, or that you are not resting in Him. As someone who struggled with anxiety and depression for thirty years, I know that often, my suffering had nothing to do with anything I had done, and nothing to do with anything I had neglected to do. Anxiety and even depression can come from other sources such as family conflict, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, financial distress, disability…the list goes on.
Though this book is not intended solely for those who struggle with clinical anxiety and depression, many of the devotionals will touch on those things because they are a part of my history, and they are places I have experienced the most healing.
Things like anxiety and depression are not necessarily spiritual issues. What feels like a lack of peace may be due to a chemical imbalance, or vestiges of a past trauma that need to be worked through. Something has robbed us of peace. That thing needs to be discovered and addressed.
Believing that our lack of peace is borne out of a lack of faith can create shame and actually push us away from the God Who wants to heal us. Likewise, believing we have to prove our trust in Him in order to receive healing can create greater distrust and even disillusionment if healing doesn’t come after we’ve done everything “right.”
There is no shame in depression, anxiety, or a lack of peace. There is also no shame in seeking help from a professional counselor or medication. These routes do not deny God’s ability to heal. Choosing to persevere through the healing process may even stand as evidence that we do believe Him, whether our healing comes instantly or takes years of work.
Do you believe God is good even if you are not yet able to apprehend His gift of peace? Are you willing to trust Him and brave the process to find healing?
Prayer and Reflection
Dear God, help me open my heart and “get real” with You over the next thirty days. Make me willing to be honest about the ways I lack peace and open up about anything in my relationship with You that feels broken or not quite right. Where I once only survived, help me learn to thrive. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Is there a place in your life where you lack peace? A place you feel you are only surviving? Do you long to have the peace and joy promised to you in God’s Word? Feel free to use the next page* to journal about your thoughts or write out a prayer to God.
*The print edition of this book contains journaling pages for each day’s response.
Preorder Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4X2X18C
Aubrey’s Website: https://www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Alexis Goring’s Devotionals for the Heart: https://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/
About Aubrey:
Though Aubrey has loved the Word of God since she was a child, she found her niche in Historical Fiction. Her books unite a fascination with history and a passion for redemption, creating a unique brand of gritty, honest sagas that span the years of the world wars and are uniquely written from the German perspective.
Aubrey is a mother of three and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she enjoys making music, reading, and spending time with friends.
