Dancing Over Devils:

Dear Reader,

Today I've been thinking about what real peace means. There's this powerful verse from Romans that keeps coming to mind: "Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

It's interesting how peace and strength come together here. I used to think peace meant everything being calm and quiet, but this shows a different side. Real peace comes through victory - through overcoming what troubles us. And we're not meant to face these battles alone.

The part about "under your feet" really speaks to me. It's not saying "under your foot" (singular) but "feet" (plural). There's something powerful about being part of a community, about facing life's challenges together rather than trying to go it alone.

I've noticed in my own life how much stronger I feel when I'm connected to others. Those times when I try to handle everything by myself are usually when I struggle the most. Maybe that's what this verse is getting at - that we find our greatest peace and victory when we're walking together.

The ending of the verse is comforting too - "The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." After all this talk of crushing evil, it ends with grace. I guess that's what we all need most - not just strength for the battle, but grace for the journey.

Just thinking about this brings me a sense of peace. Not the fragile kind that breaks when things get hard, but the lasting kind that comes from knowing we're not alone in our struggles.

Until tomorrow, 

Chaplain Mark