Tag: seek

healing, hope

Surrendering Doubt: Finding Peace in Faith

The Kedge Anchor

Today, I want to share something that’s been sitting heavy—but beautifully—in my heart. It was sparked by a devotional my pastor in Rhode Island, Pastor Dave, shared this morning on Instagram. @therrien6034 

Every day at 6:00 a.m., Pastor Dave posts a short but impactful video devotional called The Bible Café—a time where we receive “a serving of Scripture and a cup of caffeine (or the beverage of your choice).” Each week he focuses on a new topic, and many of us are keeping topical journals based on the Scripture he shares each morning.

This week’s theme is doubt.

In Luke 24:38–39, Pastor Dave pointed out that the disciples doubted they were really seeing Jesus after His resurrection. Despite walking closely with Him, they quickly forgot what He had already told them—and that forgetfulness opened the door to doubt.

Doubt often leads us to lean on human reasoning, which I know too well. In my own experience, doubt hasn’t just led to overthinking—it’s brought discouragement, disappointment, and sometimes even depression. When we doubt, we start trying to make sense of everything on our own, and it rarely leads us closer to God.

Earlier this year, in a season of deep grief, I found myself overwhelmed—like I was drowning, searching for a way out. That’s when a word began repeating in my heart: surrender.

It was simple, but powerful.

Surrendering my grief to Jesus didn’t make the pain disappear overnight, but it created space—a holy emptiness—for Him to step in and carry what I couldn’t. And lately, another word has joined that inner echo: seek.

Maybe it’s an “aha” moment from God.

When we surrender—whether it’s a habit, addiction, grief, doubt, or anything that weighs on us and pulls us away from God—we’re not just letting something go. We’re making room.
Surrender creates a void. But that space is not meant to stay empty. It becomes an invitation for Jesus to move in.

Letting go may feel like a loss at first, but in reality, it’s the beginning of something greater: peace, clarity, healing, and deeper intimacy with God.

The disciples were incredibly blessed—they saw the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes. His glorified body stood before them, scars and all. Sometimes I find myself wishing I could have a visual like that. But the truth is: we do.

We may not see Jesus physically, but we see Him in His Word, in creation, in the love of others, and in the quiet moments of prayer. His presence is still near. – Joshua 1:5 “ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” We may not walk beside Him like the disciples did, but we can still walk with Him daily.

And just like the disciples, after their doubt, were filled with faith—we too can be filled.
When we surrender, we make space.
When we seek, we find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

So today, I invite you to do the same:
Surrender whatever is pulling you away.
And seek the One who is always ready to fill the void—with His truth, His presence, and His peace.

Wisdom

Is It Possible to Seek God Diligently and Not Find Him?

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Jean van der Meulen on Pexels.com

Happy Friday!! We made it to the end of the week. It’s almost the weekend!!! First, I just want to say this blog post today is inspired by the Bible Cafe on Instagram hosted by Pastor Dave Therrien @therrien6034, New Hope Christian Church. He has been taking us through Proverbs 1 this week talking about wisdom. Whilst Pastor Dave has been talking about wisdom in verses 32 and 33 (I encourage you to listen to the past week, they are five short videos). Pastor Dave goes on to say we need to be intentional about doing what God says to “be at ease from the dread of evil.” It’s a promise if we are intentional about doing what God says? (which made me think, “am I setting out each day to intentionally do what God says?”, that’s a discussion for another day)

After reading verses 32 and 33, verse 28 caught my eye;

28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.” (NKJV).

(seriously, listen today’s video and what Pastor Dave says the Bible says about complacency)

So this reminded me of last week’s post and the one before that about seeking God wholeheartedly, diligently. The Bible says we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). But, verse 28 – “… They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. That just smacked me between the eyes. Proverbs 9:10 came to mind – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We need to have fear, a reverent fear of God, THAT is the beginning of wisdom. We must CHOOSE to fear God. My fear of God isn’t one that makes me run from Him. It’s not a fear if I mess up He’s gonna be mad me and punish me. He’ll correct me and get me back on track with love, grace and mercy. My fear is fear one that is in awe of Him. He is in control, He died for me, for us, God rose Jesus from the dead for me, for us, so that we could have eternity with Him. God is sovereign, there is no other like Him, He has NO equal! Choosing to fear the Lord, the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 2:4-6

4 “If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”

We can be diligent and intentional in our search but with out fear of the Lord, we ain’t gonna find Him. We ain’t gonna find wisdom and understanding without a reverent fear of the Lord. It comes down to choosing. Choosing to fear the Lord. Choosing to be intentional about seeking Him and doing what He says. There are only good things that come from choosing to fear the Lord. Diligent, intentional, wholeheartedly, seek, choose, we will gain wisdom and understanding.