Thoughts of peace

I have been attempting to start a venture that, hopefully, would bring in some extra income. I have been making quite a mess in my studio, as I call it. Most the time we call it the 'pink room', because, it is. My goal is to get some things made and put on Etsy by Thanksgiving. Today I realized it is easier to be creative when the desire overcomes you, than when you make yourself to be creative.

I had a house full, okay, only 3 , electricians today. I am having some old wiring replaced, so with all their meandering around my house, I felt a bit like a bird in a cage. I didn't have freedom to go about normal business, free to go into any room in the house, because they were always there. They were even in the bathroom when I needed to be.

I finally decided to just go to the studio as they weren't in there. I started to work on a project already begun, attempting to get it finished. I just wasn't liking the results. I tried different things, different angles, different colors, to no avail. I was getting really frustrated. I started to second guess myself. Maybe I wasn't as creative as I thought. Maybe this isn't what I was suppose to be doing. But what about all the money I have spent getting supplies, was it a waste, was I now stuck with things I would never use? What was I suppose to do??? The crew left for lunch, Autumn was at work, so as soon as they left, I started to cry. I asked the Lord, what I was to do, why wasn't this coming together. I hadn't had my devotions yet, I had tried earlier, but it was to disruptive with them making noise and shouting through the ceiling at each other. In tears I walked over to the big, overstuffed, dark purple chair, where I always sit to have my time with the Lord. I picked up my favorite devotional book. "Lord, you have used this book so often to give me just the right word of encouragement, the right verse. Please let today's verse be what I need." I opened it to October 28, and again, the Lord had just what I needed.

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
In another version it reads, "I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans of welfare and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.

The tears abated, a smile replaced a grim expression, I knew the task at hand. To continue doing what I was doing. Either the Lord will show me that this was the right path, or in my doing the next thing, He would guide me to the path that was the excellent one.

Being the provider of my home, is the one thing that really unnerves me, that gives me the greatest concern. I got quite use to being taken care of. My stomach goes cold whenever I think about working, about having a career. But I needn't be fretful, I have a future and a hope. The Lord has thoughts of peace for me. I would be foolish not to cling to that.