“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace.” Isaiah 52:7
There was an event of career transition, not so long ago, which brought a huge amount of turmoil and uncertainty into my life and that of all of my immediate family. It came as a complete surprise and shock, nearly robbing all of us of our inner peace, joy, and hope for the future.
Were it not for the conscious daily effort of each of us to remind ourselves that God loves us; He has a plan for our lives; He is in control; and there is a reason for the way things happen--the results could have been disastrous.
Navigating this difficult time in our lives also required two other things for us to make a successful transition to a new reality. First, a fellow church member was willing to reach out, listen, and extend the love and compassion of Christ along with a gentle reminder that "things will work out."
For me and my family, he was the messenger on the mountain who brought the good news that no matter what, "all is well."
Second, along with the proverbial leap of faith required in a time of uncertainty, I've learned that sometimes one must take a leap toward the Peace which is ours in God's greatest gift, the birth of his Son. Praising God is difficult at times because it can become obscured in the minutiae of our daily lives, but we should remind ourselves that God's mercy and peace are new each day. Remember, as the messenger proclaims: Our God is ruling!
Gary Beaty has been a member of First Baptist Nashville for over 40 years. His wife, Marte, and son, Hunt (in his third year at NYU), are also FBC members. Gary spent 23 years working at WSM/TNN (Gaylord Entertainment) and now works as a free-lance writer, producer, and actor-participant in commercials and corporate presentations.
The audio version of today's devotional was recorded by Gary Beaty.
