The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.




TRUST JESUS TODAY





  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Personal Peace (06/01/06)
The Eye of the Storm


The shrill ring of the telephone, startled Dorrie. Without thinking, she picked up the phone, but realized too late that it was a mistake. Her ex-husband, Ross, was calling again, but not to simply talk. Instead, as usual, he only wanted to rant and vent his frustration as he had done numerous times over the past year. He simply couldn’t understand why Dorrie had to divorce him in order to protect their daughter. As a Christian, he had asked forgiveness for the molestation. Now Dorrie and their daughter should forgive him, so they could be a family again, he thought. Counseling didn’t help. The events continued even though Ross kept promising to never do it again.

When Dorrie stood firm and unmoved by his weeping and pleading, Ross’s anger would explode. Only now, Dorrie felt stronger standing up to Ross knowing that he was not in the same town. Moving 300 miles away, Dorrie felt safer to tell him, “Don’t talk to me like that. I don’t have to listen to it.” Hanging up the phone stopped the ranting.

This was the storm in which Dorrie had been living for a year. The shock of discovering her first love, the man who was a knowledgeable Bible teacher, the man she trusted and so admired, had violated their daughter. The many angry phone calls from Ross, the threats, the divorce proceedings even when she didn’t believe in divorce for a Christian, and then moving to a new town and a new job as a single mom all combined into a withering, swirling black storm that enveloped her life.

And yet, to Dorrie’s amazement and wonder, she felt wrapped in a cloak of peace. This calm in the eye of the storm was nothing she had ever experienced before. At night, she slept easily and without fear. In her mind’s eye, Dorrie could see herself holding onto a strong chain anchored to a rock in the eye of a raging hurricane. Looking back years later, Dorrie realized it was a special time of grace given by God to see her through a very difficult period in her life. Even though this period of peace eventually ended to Dorrie’s dismay, yet she is filled with love and appreciation for God’s gift during that time as a child would be to receive a special gift from a parent.

Dorrie discovered the truth of those red words found in John 14:27 (NIV),

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

We all know someone who tries to find this personal peace in the world through drugs, alcohol, careers, relationships, and experiences, but these offer only temporary, superficial peace. For the peace they strive for is freedom from problems or trouble. Without any bumps in the road, there is only smooth sailing in life. Right?

The peace offered to us by Jesus Christ is so different. His peace is not freedom from trouble, but smack in the middle of trouble. Being very upfront and warning us, Jesus said that we would have only trouble in this world (John 16:33 NIV). But in spite of the trouble, we can experience His peace in our own life by simply trusting that He is in control of the storm. By leaving our troubles in His capable hands, we are free from worry and anxiety. As we have all experienced, this is easier said than done. That is where faith steps in to show the way. Faith says, “He said it, we believe it.”

This peace can be as slippery as a freshly mopped floor. Just as in our physical world, we might be able to walk across the wet floor without any trouble most of the time, but there are also times when we lose our footing and slip, or even fall down. In the same way, our walk of trust and faith may go well most of the time, but there are times when we stumble and when we fall. As athletes know, the more practice one gets, the more improvement can be seen. Only by constantly walking in fellowship with Christ with complete trust in Him will we discover the sweet side benefit of personal peace.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 604 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Carla Feagans
06/10/06
This starts with such a powerful story, and ends with some powerful, great points, but it does kind of feel like two different pieces stuck together.

Also, in your story, watch shifts of tense, POV, and time frames - it seemed to jump around some which made it distracting.

This is a powerful message, it just needs a little more editing/consistency.

I really appreciated reading your message though, good writing and thanks for sharing!
Virginia Gorg
06/12/06
Good, in-depth message with a ring of truth to it. You stayed well within the topic and your message is received clearly. Watch for overuse of commas.
Sue Goodreau
06/14/06
This woman faces a tough situation, but she leaned on God and felt peace. I have an aquaintance going through this same experience, and amidst the complete overturning of her life, she, too, has felt peace--only by giving the situation to God. Your story, then, does indeed parallel real life.

I really liked the last two paragraphs. They are well-written and bring up excellent points. I especially like the slippery floor analogy.

Overall, I think this is a good devotional. A fine job!