< Back to Issue 12

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And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. – Mark 4:39 (ESV)

During the past several weeks, while putting together our 12^th issue, that old familiar feeling from my past came creeping back, threatening to suffocate me and slam me to the ground, to take over every facet of my life and physically consume me to my core: anxiety. In my pre-Christ days, I had it bad. Since then, every now and then when the busy-ness of life reaches one of its crescendos, when social media rears its ugly head, when a sink piled up with dishes pathetically begs for attention, and lack of sleep distorts everything through an overly dramatic lens, I feel anxiety clawing its way back into my chest. The difference between past-me and now is that my heart is under new management, and, thankfully, the new Owner is made strong in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9–10). When I throw my hands up and say, Alright anxiety, come on back, you win, Jesus flicks it away with His little finger and then pours his love and peace over my heart like a warm, welcome, impenetrable force field. His quiet voice reminds me that I’m His. Reminds me that being busy and overwhelmed causes me to lean on Him. For my growth. For His kingdom. For some purpose beyond myself. How everything is about sacrificial love, and how incredibly beautiful that is.

My God is truly the Prince of Peace.

Going through Issue 12, I realize that I’m not the only one battling the threat of anxiety. The poets and artists in these pages have walked neck-deep in the muck of life. They’ve experienced pain, loneliness, and fear. They’ve been overwhelmed by the ugliness of the world, their doubts, the silence of God, and their own sin and pride. They’ve walked away from Him, and they’ve held Him close, all to find relief from seemingly insurmountable obstacles stacking up like bricks. They’ve tight-roped that razor-thin line between Everything’s OK and How can anything be OK? But in the midst of all their experiences and imaginings, weaving in and out of their creative outpourings, is Jesus — walking with us, quieting the storm inside, reminding us to “Fear not” and to experience His peace, to be still and seek His face. As you read this issue, I hope you are reminded to cling to our Comforter, to abide in Him (John 15:4), and to sit at His feet (Luke 10:38–42) as you cast your anxieties onto Him.

I would like to thank the poets, writers, artists, and photographers who have blessed this journal with their extraordinary work. Thank you to Katie Yee, for once again being a tremendous help with submissions and proofreading, and for being passionate in her work. Thank you to my loving husband and family for their patience during these busy months. Thank you, Jesus, for protecting my heart from anxiety and reminding me of the beautiful hope we have in You.

And, as always, thank you for reading. I truly hope you are encouraged and blessed as you share in the artistic expressions of our many talented contributors.

May God bless you and keep you, shine His face upon you, and give you peace.

Veronica McDonald
Editor/Founder

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Image: Unveiled by Veronica McDonald (2022), acrylic on canvas. All rights reserved.