Seeking Peace-When I Fail

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Friday was a bad day. I had no joy because I didn’t seek it. Instead, I allowed physical discomfort and life’s aggravations to consume me.

 Saturday morning I awoke with the previous day’s darkness hovering. I poured my coffee, grabbed my tablet and sought the sanctuary of the porch.

The Saturday devotional reading was choosing to live in joy.  Oh how I had failed to make that choice! With remorse I confessed my failure to God. I could have made excuses but God already knew my thoughts.

 As I waited quietly before God for my heart and mind to heal, I heard an extra loud flutter of a bird landing on the feeder. As I looked up, not 50 feet from the feeder, standing on the side of the hill was a beautiful doe. We gazed at each other for several seconds before she turned and disappeared into the woods. 

 I returned to reading the devotional. I had read the author’s thoughts and moved on to read the first of three scriptures.  

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. 

—Habakkuk 3:17–19

…”He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go to the heights.”

He sees me and knows my weaknesses and yet he will enable me to go to the heights!

Love: Because I know I am loved by my Father, I can confidently confess my failings.

Joy: I don’t have to chase joy, but I do have to choose joy especially on difficult days.

Peace: When I choose to accept forgiveness Peace flows.

This is my favorite scripture photo this week. The picture is sunrise on Clingman’s Dome, GSMNP, taken from the webcam.