I haven’t been here in a long long time. Memories stir of years long gone.

A noisy teen crowd filling the bleachers.
Hands waving to get a friend’s attention.
High-tops squeaking with each stop and turn.
My favorite coach moving up and down the court.

I leaned over to the nephew sitting beside me and said, “When I was a teen our basketball team was really good. And the boys would paint their faces blue and gold to cheer on the home team.” I smiled just thinking about it.

I remember the moment she came into the world all pink and squirmy. When I look at her I see the chubby-cheeked toddler with more spunk than all of us put together. I watch as she smiles when the speaker shares a few of her teammates’ thoughts. Many are smiling through their tears. Yes we are excited for her. Yes… we are sad to let this season go.

As I head back to my truck, words I heard recently come back to mind. Transformation involves letting go.

Lately I’ve been tallying up the last few years of letting go.

Children moving into the world.
A home.
Weddings.
Grandmothers.
The prodigal out wandering who knows where.
My best dog.

It feels like A LOT, and with each release I think, I wonder what’s coming… or about to go. The thing is I want transformation but not the grief of letting go. It’s leaves me holding on while covering my eyes in fear of what’s coming next. It’s a peace-less way to live.

I turn the key to start my engine and hum a tune from long ago. Words return as I drive away. Tho’ years may come and many days may pass away…. Turns out my old school song holds deep truth. Time keeps going. Little by little faith grows, and I am not the same.

All the letting go makes room for more faith.

Ancient words echo.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
_{John 16:33 NIV}

Transformation requires courage. Courage to let go and remember God is always and in all ways, motivated by what is good for me. and for you.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
_{Romans 8:26-28 MSG}

Peace doesn’t come by knowing what’s ahead. It comes through the courage to trust no matter what comes. In the hard, the easy, the weariness of waiting, the groaning of wordless prayers, God is there. Helping, praying, keeping me close and working something good.

No matter what- God is always, always working something good.
I can be sure of this.
You can too.

And in this we discover Peace.
No. Matter. What.