It’s generally a good practice to record your “ah-ha!” moments.  Take the time and let them really sink deep – past your mind and down into your soul.  That being said, I recently had an “ah-ha!” moment.

This year I have been concentrating on the journey rather than the destination.  Did you ever have parents that reprimanded you on a road trip for not looking out the window?  We took a lot of road trips (looooong road trips) as a child, which meant I got to read a lot.  It was hard to keep my nose out of a book, but inevitably the words of my parents would hook into my nostrils and lift my head (usually against my will) in order to look out the window and enjoy the view.  And… Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this… You were right.  The view was usually worth it!

Why am I wired to say, “Just let me know when we get there?” and then distract myself until arrival when the journey itself can be really enjoyable?  I have this life journey that I’m on, and I find myself obsessing over what, where, and when the next major destination will be.  I feel compelled this year to concentrate on looking out the window (and even stop and wander around at times) during the journey and worry less about when and where I’m going.

Oh, by the way, that isn’t my “ah-ha!” moment; I just thought I would provide some context for you (cheesy grin).

On Sunday our pastor taught from Ephesians 6, focusing on the armor of God – particularly when it comes to our feet.  In verses 13 and 14 of Ephesians 6 we read about all that our feet (in cooperation with our resolve) have to do: Stand your ground… stand… stand firm…  And so our feet are “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (verse 15).”

I hardly ever feel ready.  There is always more I could have researched, practiced, or prepared.  And what does peace have to do with readiness?  Usually if I feel ready, then I have peace of mind; but since I hardly ever feel ready…

And then… my “ah-ha!” moment.  I already had an inkling from Sunday that I may have this all backwards, and as I’m working my way through Isaiah in the mornings, I found this:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

The phrase “whose mind is steadfast” immediately reminded me of the standing talked about in Ephesians 6:13-14, and in the same sentence was the phrase “keep in perfect peace.”  There were those two concepts linked together again somewhere else in the Bible (which I find happens a lot)!  However, the responsibility – the source – for peace is the Lord’s.  My responsibility is to trust in the Lord.

So what does this have to do with readiness?! If readiness doesn’t bring peace, but peace brings readiness and peace comes because of who we trust, how does it all work together?

At this point I was on the verge of my “ah-ha!” moment, so I grabbed a pen and let the Holy Spirit help me work it out:

We are ready at a moment’s notice and we have the ability to stand firm when we are diligent about trusting in God, who brings perfect peace during the watch or during the battle.  It’s not about trusting in a blind hope for better circumstances.  It’s about trusting in the Lord – the LORD, our Rock eternal.  That’s the focus! That’s what we should be pausing on our journey and looking out the window to see!  When we realize HOW big, powerful, capable, wise, and compassionate the Lord is we become more and more steadfast in our trust in him… and therefore… ready!

Ah-ha!