I’m delighted to introduce you to our guest post writer and artist, Emily Schroeder. Aside from being a wonderful artist, she’s an aspiring photographer currently living in the beautiful state of Idaho. Emily loves traveling to new places and says, “Spending time in nature fills my cup, and I love noticing little details in God’s creation and experiencing the stillness and peace that being outside brings. I have had an interest in art for as long as I can remember, but only in the last few years have I found a passion for creating and sharing these impactful experiences and moments with others!“
We’re glad she’s sharing with us here at Inspiring Handmade! For her first guest post, Emily reflects on where true peace can be found. If there are geographic locations that picture such deep peace, surely Peyto Lake in Banff, Canada is among them. I wrote about peaceful water recently in “Still waters.” I believe The Creator included something in His design of beautiful, serene water that somehow points us to The Prince of Peace. Enjoy the photography and writing of Emily Schroeder.
—Stephen
Letting go
When we finally let go of the safety and control we never really had in the first place, instead of sinking, we fall straight into our Heavenly Father’s loving arms. It is here, in surrender, that peace and rest can be found.
They’re not found in striving and working to be good enough, but in letting go of the heavy burdens we’ve been carrying for so long. And they’re not found in laziness, but in giving our fears and dreams to the One who created our hearts and greatly desires a relationship with us.
What deepest, unimaginable peace fills us to be completely seen and fully known, and yet to be loved so unconditionally beyond what our minds could ever understand. We are not loved for who we will be one day, but for who we are right now.
This long journey of life is not about reaching perfection. We will never get to the point where we have it all together, or understand what it was all about, until we stand before the Throne of God. But He is walking alongside us every day and night.
Letting God
How incredible is it to think that peering in the deepest parts of our hearts, God sees us for who we are. We’re not in this alone, and He wants us even when we turn away from Him. Our mighty God who created the galaxies, mountains, and oceans made us uniquely. He knows and understands our hurt and brokenness, sees our sin, and loves us still.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.”
Psalms 103:11-18 NIV
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