There are two key relationships we need to spend some time reflecting on. Firstly, our relationship with God. Do we doubt His promises, His call on our lives, our ability to hear from Him, or whether we can do enough to keep Him happy? The Bible says: ‘May the God of hope fill you with…joy and peace as you trust in him.’ When we stop trusting God and start thinking we’ve got to fix everything ourselves, we lose our joy and peace. Secondly, our relationship with ourselves. One Christian author writes: ‘For years the only relationship I had with myself was one of doubt. I doubted my decisions, my appearance, whether I was saying or doing the right thing…whether I was in any way pleasing God, or anybody else. I knew I wasn’t pleased with myself, so how could God or anybody else be pleased with me? Those years of misery are behind me, because now I know God’s grace covers me like a blanket. I know it’s through Jesus alone that I’m made righteous and acceptable to God.’ When we’re ashamed of ourselves, we can end up believing that we’re not good enough to be used by God, or even loved by God. But the truth is, we’re loved and chosen. He has a plan and purpose for our lives. These things are true, no matter what we’re feeling, no matter what other people are telling us, and no matter what our minds are thinking. Until we trust God, and accept ourselves, we’re not going to be able to move into the fullness of life that God has for us. So let’s start working through any doubts we have about God, and about ourselves, so that we can live in the joy and peace He offers.

What Now?

Spend some time reflecting on your relationship with God, and with yourself. Are there any things you’re believing that are stopping you from experiencing His joy and peace?