That None Should Perish

July 25, 2026

Based on James 1:5-8

Tired.

I should not have had that coffee just before bed.

A long night spent tossing and turning.

Vague dreams, no sense to them.

I felt that I was being pulled apart, that I needed to make a decision. A hard decision about what I want to do.

No. About what I have to do!

One part of me says stay with me. Look at all the fun we had last night.

What fun?? I don’t remember it being fun. My head says otherwise, ouch! That voice keeps talking. I want it to stop, but it won’t leave me alone. It wants me.

That decision is still waiting. The other voice is quiet.

Soothing. Inviting.

I lean in, trying to hear what it is saying.

NO!!! Don’t do that! The other voice is also inviting. But annoying.

I want to hear what the quiet voice is saying. Gentle. Soothing.

That other voice starts yelling at me! NO! I ignore it, but it is still protesting.

The quiet voice. I want that. Soothing, gentle. No big promises. No yelling.

“Come back to me.”

“Yes.” I respond.

Finally, there is peace. Quiet. The other voice is gone. No longer being invited to have fun, no more yelling. I now have peace and forgiveness.