Some of my favorite dishes require one important step. Simmering. Letting a dish sit on the stove and slowly cook at a low temperature deepens the flavors and enriches the taste.  And sometimes, letting those flavors rest overnight makes it even better.

This concept transfers very nicely to meditating on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8 says to “meditate on it day and night”) or on focusing and thinking on what is honorable, right, and pure (Philippians 4:8).


It doesn’t, however, do well for bothersome thoughts. Over the years I have had multiple incidents where something was said, texted, or emailed, and I didn’t have a chance to talk about the issue with the person, but instead just think about it . . . it and all the possible meanings and innuendos and ramifications. In other words, I “let it stew.”

This never turns out well, does it? At least not for me. I worry, get angry, lose sleep, and for what? Something that may or may not have been meant, or something that may or may not even be an issue.

The Bible is very clear about not wasting your time and thought on these issues.

I Peters 5:7 tells us to “Cast all [our] anxiety on him because he cares for [us].”

Philippians 4:6 says to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation . . . present [our] requests to God.” With a thankful heart, mind you.

And Ephesians 4:26 tells us to “Not let the sun go down while [we]are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Let’s not let the devil get even a sliver of an opportunity of taking away our peace or causing friction in our relationships. Let’s not “let it stew.”

I can still distinctly remember one drive home (Fresno) from college (UC Irvine) for Christmas. I left Southern California in sun. As I approached the bottom of the Ridge Route, the rain started. By the time I reached the summit, it was snowing. I made it safely to the other side only to hit horrific winds at the bottom of the grade near Arvin. Not to be left out, thick tule fog settled in around Bakersfield and accompanied me all the way home. Needless to say, I was tired by the time that five-hour plus journey was over.


I was reminded of that drive last week as I was coming back from Utah on I-80. The drive started pleasant enough, and I made it to the Nevada border without incident. However, Nevada had other ideas. The winds picked up, gusting at times to 50 mph or more. I was hanging on tightly and watching the semis ahead of me sway across the lanes.

Next came the tumbleweeds. Thousands of them, rolling across the highway like grunion running on a beach. There was no avoiding them, so I just held on tighter and prayed the big ones, the ones that still had their roots attached, wouldn’t hit me. The closer I got to Reno, the fewer the tumbleweeds, but the winds still gusted and now snow was falling. Or should I say swirling and sticking. And I still had to cross the mountains to get home.

Life is often like that, isn’t it? Our day, week, year starts out pleasant enough and then a little foul weather appears. We hang on, hoping it won’t last long and we can just ride it out. But sometimes it just gets worse, not better. What to do?

In this day and age, technology via a weather app helps us see into our future. For me, a week ago, this showed that the mountain roads were clear though clouds still loomed and there was a possibility of a few inches of snow. All doable in my all-wheel drive. I just hoped the app was accurate. After all, weather apps and -men have been known to get it wrong.

But life doesn’t have a weather app . . . or does it?

The Bible is full of verses reminding us that God will see us through the “storms” of our life.

Sometimes, He stills them, causing them to cease completely: “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalm 107: 29).

Sometimes he provides us a safe place to wait it out: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7).

But always, especially when we have to weather it, he promises to be right there with us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

While weather broadcasters cannot fully predict what might lie ahead, neither can we know what is around the corner. However, our God does, and our app, the Bible, can provide peace and calm. And neither is ever wrong.

Nothing feels better than a good night’s sleep. And sometimes, nothing is harder to come by. So much can rob us of restful sleep: to do lists, excitement, strange beds, unfamiliar surroundings, anxiety, pain, worry, stress, heartache.

And yet sleep is so important to our heath and well-being. In fact, “Neuroscientist Matthew Walker believes that lack of sleep is the greatest public health challenge we face in the 21st century. He says the lack of sleep is making us sick, making us fat and making us dumb.” (A neuroscientist explains the power of sleep)

But sleep is what God promises us in Psalm 127:2b “. . . he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Tim Challies wrote a beautiful blog based on this verse which you can read by clicking on the title, (He Gives His Beloved Sleep). I can not recount his entire blog, but there is one quote I do want to take from him. He said, “What would we give to those we love if we had all the power of God Almighty, if we could dispense any gift from his endless storehouse? We would give the courage of a hero, the voice of an angel, the wealth of a king, the strength of a champion. God makes no such promises. Rather, the promise God makes is this: He gives his beloved sleep.”

As much as we wish others a good night’s sleep, we have no power to ensure it. Only the God who created rest can grant it. But we can play a part, for Isaiah 26:3 states, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon you, because he trusts You.”

During those difficult hours, when your mind wants to run hither and yon, keep it on and trust the God who promises us peace . . . and sleep.

Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

Well, it happened again.

I turned the calendar from May to June and the temperature made its move from the high 80s/low 90s straight to the 100+ mark. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. It happens every year, and the weather gurus warned us it was coming. I guess I was just hoping that this year might be different. That spring would last a little bit longer and that summer wouldn’t come in quite as hot. But that is like thinking that people intuitively know how to stop a Segway or that hitting the elevator button multiple times will actually make it arrive faster. It just ain’t gonna happen. Heat is just a part of where I live.

As humans we often wonder/question why certain things do happen. Why young people have life threatening illnesses. Why good people lose their jobs. Why we are having certain problems.  We question the fairness of it. We question the sense in it. We question and question.

As Christians, we sometimes, in the back of our minds, feel we should be immune from some of these harsh realities because “God’s got our back,” and we will escape unscathed. But we aren’t. Just like the heat comes to the Northstate on the heels of May, so trials and troubles come to everyone in a world that is fallen.  

In fact, nowhere in the Bible (please correct me if I am wrong) could I find anything that said we would not face troubles and trials. Instead, I found the promise that we would face them.

“In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33)

Or as Peter told the Christians of his day, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (I Peter 4:12)

Peter reminded his fellow believers that not only would Christians face the troubles that beset the entire human race, but as followers of Christ, they would experience some added heat.

But what I also found was the promise that God was and is always there during these times.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

“The Lord is . . . a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9-10)

But the absolute clincher is the rest of John 16:33 which I have bolded.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . . . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Now that should provide permanent relief from the heat.

If this past year has taught me anything, it has taught me two things.

First, right when I think I have a handle on things … I don’t; and second, semantics does matter.

Last year was a tough one in many ways. Plans were interrupted. Life was put on hold. Dreams were deferred. I don’t know what the normal “grief” cycle for something like this is, but I personally went from compliance––to weariness––to anger to ______––and here is where I had a choice between two words –– resignation or surrender. And no, this decision was not “just a matter of semantics”—of personally ascribing a different meaning to a word to promote my own meaning. In this case, there is consensus that these two words do indeed mean something different.



Though both at their core mean “giving up,” resignation connotes a hopelessness, of not seeing a way out of a situation, of throwing one’s hands up in defeat and giving up on possibilities. 

Surrender also denotes giving up, but in surrender, a person gives himself over to someone else. He submits to someone else's authority. A stronger force. And with surrender, there is still a hope that life will be good if not better.

We know from history that surrendering to another human being will not always end up well. However, surrendering to God––an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, just, and loving God––who has our best interests in mind––will always be better. It just doesn’t seem like that to us because surrender means giving up our personal freedom and right to make our own choices and dictate our own lives … which always seems like a good idea until … we realize there is only so far that will really go.

A while back a friend of mine shared the following series of statements by Dr. Gary Smalley from his book The DNA of Relationships. They are statements of surrender––not resignation. Of surrendering to God. Here they are:

Today I will reduce my earthly expectations to as close to zero as I can get.

I will accept anything that happens as filtered by you.

I will use any disappointment as an opportunity to worship you.

I will sit quietly and ask you what you are telling me to do.

Last year, I realized there was only so much control I had over what happened around me––both on the world and the personal stage. There were things I wanted to happen that I had no power to make happen––but God did. There were disappointments and difficult times I wanted to avoid––but God didn’t. There was confusion and questions about why things were happening that I couldn’t answer––but God could. And there were walls I was butting my head against hoping I could make them move, but I couldn’t––but God could.

So this year, I decided I would start each day with reading and thinking about those four statements, realizing that if I began each day reminding myself that God was indeed in control, that perhaps I could better handle what the day brought.​

The result? Not surprisingly, because He said it would, it has brought a “peace … which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).