Peace.

So, right now I am in one of my "academic marathons," which probably means I shouldn't be blogging. Things should lighten up a tad by Wednesday afternoon, but I don't want to wait that long! ;)

I pulled an all-nighter last night and I had rough classes today. Early morning rehearsal. Exams. Lots of papers due. Frustrating teachers. Frustrating classmates. You know how "those days" go. By about 3:30 pm, I had 6 classes down and one more to go, but it was canceled. I immediately felt a meltdown coming on. I've really been fighting a lot of things this semester and I was just slapped by all of it in the face at once. My first instinct was to go home and cry, but I knew that was the worst idea and what the enemy wanted me to do. My next reaction was to call somebody because I knew I had already escalated past my distraction tool box (my set of coping skills, basically). I called one of my beloved mentors, but she did not pick up. I sat there for a second but before I started thinking about someone else to call, God stepped in and calmed me down. It was a very cool moment. I went and sat outside in the sunshine on a grassy hill on campus and simply existed for a few moments. I just reveled in the peace and protection of Jesus sitting beside me, watching campus bustle on.

I got it together and went back to my little paper-writing, music-doing marathon. A little while ago, I decided to jump in the shower before heading back to the library. The moment I stepped out of the shower, I felt the same overwhelming sense of panic, fear, and doom that I had felt earlier today. (This is not a new thing...it's what I've been fighting lately, actually.) Then I heard/felt a nudge saying, "Go to My Word." So I opened up my Bible and saw a sticky note that said Psalm 63. I don't remember writing it and who knows how long it's been there. I figured that was as good a place as any to start, so I turned to Psalm 63 and found complete comfort.


"...Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you...Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth..."

Thank you, Lord, for looking out for me. Thank you for honoring the work I'm doing in seeking you by faithfully revealing yourself. Thank you for reminding me to turn to you when I get caught up in the craziness of life. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for the work you're doing in transforming my heart and my life into what you have planned. Thank you for the peace you showed me today. Thank you for your love and for your ultimate sacrifice.

He is good, y'all! And He is faithful. He can bring peace like you've never felt before. Seek Him and be still. :)

Ashley Anne