I love to walk in nature and often go for walks to take a moment to myself. One particular day I was doing my favourite walk in our village to some fields nearby. It was in the middle of a busy season both at work and in my family life and I just needed somewhere to be quiet in the busyness. As I passed through an open field I noticed to my left an overhanging willow tree. It intrigued me so I wandered over to take a closer look. As I stepped through the arching branches an incredible peace swept over me. 

It was as if the world stopped, like a pause button had been pressed from the life that was going on around me. In that moment, everything else faded away and it was just me and God.  I knew God’s presence in that space in a really powerful, peaceful way. I sat down on a fallen log that rested under the branches and it was as if it was just me and God sat side by side alone in the whole world.

I knew at that moment how important I was to Him, how He wanted time with me, how much He loved me and loved to be with me. Everything about my life that was busy just dissolved away as I sat silently in His presence and let His incredible peace wash over me. It was like taking a deep breath. The only sound was the birds singing and the leaves rustling. The tree created an umbrella of peace, a safe sanctuary; a cocooned space.

God still uses that encounter today to help me find peace when I need it. I revisit that stillness, the quiet, the safety and the ability to just breathe. I love knowing that that same peace is mine wherever I am, whenever I need it. I just need to stop, to breathe and sit with God, just like when I sat with Him on the log under the tree. I love that He is always with me and is longing and ready for me to sit with Him.