All Will Be Well
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Peace isn’t found in perfection, but in trusting that God is present and working even in what feels unfinished.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
— “It Is Well with My Soul”, Horatio G. Spafford
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
— Madeleine L’Engle
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Food for Thought
I am a perfectionist – per the Ennenagram assessment, that is my official personality type. There are many traits of this personality type that come in handy – I tend to be diligent, organized, and typically exhibit excellent follow-through. However, one of the more annoying traits of a perfectionistic personality is that it is often hard for me to let things go. Nothing is ever good enough – it can always be tweaked or bettered in some way. I can always be doing more, achieving more, and I often feel that I’m falling short in some way. For the sake of time (and my sanity), I have to actively say to myself, “This is good enough – move on”. It is very difficult for me to feel at peace.
I’m confident that’s not how God wants me to live – constantly worrying, wasting the precious time God has given me on the fear of making mistakes.
And yet, ironically, this time of year – during which we are supposed to be most attuned to the idea of “peace on earth” – can induce a lot of these anxieties.
There’s a lot of pressure with this season. Always another gift you have to buy, another decoration you could put up, another gathering to attend, another casserole to bake, and you better do it all with a smile on your face.
And, this year in particular, it feels hard to find peace. For many of us, fear, grief, and loneliness wash over us in overwhelming waves.
It’s easy to say, “God will provide,” when there’s food in your cabinets, but what about when you have no idea where our next meal is coming from? It’s easy to say, “Joy to the world,” when you’re surrounded by those you love, but what about when you’re concerned about the safety of your loved ones and neighbors, or your own safety? It’s easy to say, “God is just and loving,” when you see justice around you, but what about when it seems like wrong-doers aren't held accountable and those who have promised to care for you only seem to care for themselves?
Our world feels far from perfect, certainly not “good enough”, and it seems that we are constantly falling short. When Jesus was born all those years ago, the angel announced, “Peace on earth, and goodwill to man.” But what about when peace – when God – feels so very far away?
One of my favorite songs is the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul”. The lyrics boast of experiencing peace, as sure and calming as a river, in the face of sorrow; the peace we can find in the great gift of God’s assurance that, no matter our troubles, all will be well.
That truth can feel impossible to grasp at times, but we have to remember that Jesus came not to a perfectly decorated stable filled with glittering, Christmas-card smiles – but was born into a broken world, filled with fear, and grief, and longing – to remind us that God is very near indeed.
We celebrate this season, not because everything is perfect, but because, in our very great imperfection, God loves us and will not leave us. God is there in the neighbors and organizations that ensure everyone in their community is provided for. God is there in the voices that cry out against injustice. God is there in the small moments of love and courage that are constantly at work, bettering this world a little more every day.
God made God’s self known to us in Jesus to show us that – in the face of all our short-comings – God extends to us hope, joy, love, and peace.
When all seemed lost, peace was born. All may not be perfect, but all will be well.
This week, when you feel pressure to do more or be more, pause, take a slow breath, and whisper: “Good enough. God is here.” Then intentionally leave one small thing imperfect—a crooked ornament, an unchecked task, a not-quite-perfect email—and let it stand as a gentle reminder that peace doesn’t require perfection, God meets you in the unfinished, and you are already enough.
The holidays are upon us and maybe you are finding yourself slightly nervous. It can be hard to know how to navigate or approach all that might divide us if brought up in conversation. To help our readers navigate this season, our team created a short resource to provide you with Five Things to Remember When Setting a Welcome Table for the Holidays! We hope it will help you set a welcoming space before your guests even arrive!
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God of Peace,
meet me in the places where I feel unfinished and overwhelmed. Help me release my need for perfection and trust that You are present in every imperfect moment. Teach my heart to rest in Your steady love, knowing that all will be well.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Where in your life do you most feel the pressure to be “perfect,” and how might God be inviting you to release some of that pressure?
When have you experienced God’s peace in the midst of something messy, uncertain, or incomplete?
What small, practical change could help you notice God’s presence more easily in this busy season?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Invite the kiddos to share about something they work really hard to get “just right,” and talk together about what helped them relax and feel safe even when things weren’t perfect.
Invite the children to imagine what “peace” feels like to them—what it sounds like, looks like, or feels like—and guide them in understanding that God offers that peace even on hard days.
Make a list together of simple actions they can try this week to be reminded that God is always with them.
Meet This WEek’s Writer...
June Dare Bunce is a native North Carolinian and one of the founders of The Welcome Table. Outside of TWT, she’s been a professional actor since 2009 and has had the honor and pleasure of working as a drama instructor for organizations such as The Harlem Children’s Zone and the YMCA. When she’s not working on a script or at the office, you can either find her at the gym or on the yoga mat, walking around whatever town she’s living in at the moment, or working on the art of relaxing at home (it really is a skill).
To hear more from June throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!