Surrender Equals Peace // Micah

A plant that towers above the soil originates from a seed that must first be buried beneath the earth. So it is with some of the most impactful things in life, they come about through some of the most counterintuitive means. This is true of realizing peace.

Our instincts say we must fight, gain control, and maintain options in order to find and sustain peace. The thought of "throwing our hands in the air," "laying all our cards on the table," or "putting all our chips in one basket" strikes the average person as unwise if not reckless. The thought of surrendering our will and relinquishing the illusion of control feels unsettling, yet when it comes to actualizing true peace that is exactly the way.

Trusting in Christ, the Prince of Peace, implies letting go of self-reliance, turning the reins of ones life over, and forgoing alternative paths for "the way". He calls us to quiet trying to construct roads to Him and to travel the one His Son paved. He calls us to lay our anxious thoughts aside and rest in Him. In a frenzied world addicted to sufficiency, He prescribes a surrender that leads to peace.

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." Romans 5:1

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him." Romans 15:13a

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

A Hearing Father // Audrey

As I was reading through several chapters of Isaiah, the Word spoke just how big God is and how HE is the one who gives us strength, subdues our fears, the very one that holds our hand is the Lord our redeemer. He gives strength to the weak, binds the broken-hearted, brings water to the parched, hears and answers the cries of the afflicted, fatherless, widow and poor. 

But then I had a moment of concern... "but God, there are so many hurting, poor, hungry, thirsty... are you really answering their cries?" Then I thought, yes, in ways I may not understand or see for myself, but yes.

Yes, because He says Yes. 

And could it be, that the Lord moves in our hearts to be answers to these cries? The very starting of Vapor could be part of His way of answering some of these cries. That He brings men & women to join the cause as a way of answering even more of these cries. Could it be this is how He is at work, moving and mobilizing in the heart of His people, for His glory. 

I'm overwhelmed thinking about the Lord and His work through Vapor. Redeeming voodoo priest to himself, a child's Hasmin's Friend sponsor moved with compassion to pay for their child to have a very needed surgery this week, a team of diverse individuals leaving for Kenya this weekend, a 5k run benefitting the lost and the least, my husband sharing the life-changing Word to the NFL and sharing about Vapor with individuals who God may have join in being an answer to these cries.... As our pastor used to say, "He has the whole thing rigged!" It's so beautiful. Praying we be found faithful in each thing we are given today.

- Audrey McElveen

Humbly Furnished Peace // Micah

When a false sense of survivable autonomy and an inflated view of self-sufficiency are embraced, our pride swells and inevitably anxiety is ushered in. Ripe with all the above are societies that ignorantly over exentuate their independence. Such societies idolize the "Lone Ranger" myth and elevate the "Last Man Standing" narrative. From Super Man & Captain America to John Wayne & Clint Eastwood, we tout rugged individualists who pull them selves up by their boot straps, draw solely from internal motivation, take on the bad guys with "no help from no buddy," and do it all without breaking a sweat. 

Beyond being unrealistic and disengenous the underbelly of this solo act mentality is grounded in ego, "the limelight need only shine on me" and naivety, "I don't need God or others." As if we gave ourselves raw talents, furnish the oxygen that fills our lungs, and self-hatched from an egg laid by a rock. 

Given over to this thinking, we find ourselves exaggerating our own contributions, buying our own press, spending extensive time managing our image and increasingly worrying about all we are responsible to sustain. Ironically, a "solo uno" approach to life feeds pride and anxiety because it puts the weight of the world and the responsibility to keep it spinning on shoulders that aren't load-bearing. Left unchecked, this weight eventually sinks the most stalwart of ships.

In God's economy, humility and peace, are inextricably linked and together provide the keys needed to loose the shackles of pride and anxiety. Humility says, "Lord, you are mighty and by your hands, great good can be ushered in through your servants." It says, "you have called me to do life in community with others, who are strong where I am weak and wise where I lack understanding." It says, "I am free to cast the cares and anxieties that weigh me down on the one capable of shouldering the load." 

While pride says, "look at me," Humility calls for us to, "fix our eyes on Him.” While anxiety says, "worry because it is all on me," peace says, "rest comes when you transfer the load to Him." While pride ultimately adorns the walls of ones heart with anxiety, humility furnishes the halls of our inner man with peace. 

"And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

- Micah McElveen