"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." John 14:27 NIV

Sometimes the future looms in front of me with ominous gray shadows that fill me with fear. There are so many problems lurking out there in the great unknown, some in the more immediate future and others lingering in the distance. All of them remain unsolved mysteries: how will they be resolved? My mind races but finds no solutions. What am I going to do?

Of course I've prayed about it. But I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel a tight knot of anxiety in the pit of the stomach even after a sincere prayer. I know that God already has a solution in mind, and I know that he will lead me to it at the right time--but waiting patiently for it is the difficult part.

Jesus said he would give us his peace. Not the kind of peace the world offers. Why is it that I keep looking for that kind of peace--the kind that comes from financial security and a five-year plan? The peace Jesus offers isn't dependent on my situation or shaken by the unknown. If I only claimed his peace, I wouldn't feel troubled or afraid.

Why then do I allow myself to feel so anxious and frightened? Why do I lay awake at night worrying when I know that my life rests safely in the palm of the Master's hand? I have access to a peace that defies all the odds. I just need to claim it.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20 NLT

How good is your imagination? Personally, I can think up some pretty good plans for the Lord. However, the usual respnse to my submitted request is a firm, "No." If he can do even more than I could ask for, why is it that he so often denies my requests?

We love to quote Matthew 19:26, "With God all things are possible." So what's the deal? Why is it that we live with such a constant flood of disappointment?

The answer lies with one word: Purpose. God is not limited in his resources. But often our requests don't line up with his purpose, which is why our proposals are so often declined. The things we ask for might be rooted in motives not honoring to God; or the timing may not be right just yet.

God's "mighty power at work within us" can accomlish great things. And a job promotion or nice house might be part of that plan, but they might not. The key question is why are we asking for these things? To satisfy our greed? To give us a sense of security? Or so that we can use these opportunities and resources to reach out to those who need to know the love of God?

God can do so much more than we can imagine! It is often we who limit his ability to work through us. But God's resources are unlimited! If we can make it our life's purpose to glorify him, there's no telling what he will do with us!

"Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." I Corinthians 1:26-27 NLT

Perhaps one of the most effective tools our enemy uses to prevent us from completing God's plans is that of Discouragement. He whispers that we are ill-equipped and unsuited to the task, inadequate and bound to be unsuccessful. And well aware of our own shortcomings and failings, we suspect the truth of the matter and bow our heads in resignation.

We compare ourselves to those who seem to have it all together. They walk with heads held confidently, poised, always speaking the right words without hesitation or doubt. These are the people God calls to his service. Not people like me.

Then it hit me: God uses frail vessels because that's all he has at his disposal. Or more precisely, God uses frail vessels because he has chosen human beings for his service, and every last one of us are fragile jars of clay. Even those who appear to be fine pottery.

In II Corinthians 4:7, Paul states: "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile jars of clay containing this great treasure." He admits that each of us are nothing more than fragil clay jars--bound to be flawed and inadequate. I Corinthians 6 explains that this is part of God's plan: that he chose to use weak and foolish human beings, despite our inabilities, in order to prove his own power.

So don't be discouraged. We don't need to be perfect to complete God's work; we only need to be obedient.