Caroline TeSelle

my life shared. your dreams encouraged.

  • Blog
  • Witty Links

Restlessness Uncovered

August 15, 2016 By Caroline TeSelle

Restlessness uncovered

In spite of all our sense of uncleanness, in spite of all our rush and interest in the work of the world, and in spite of all our logic, the implicit sense of God will come and disturb our peace. ~ Oswald Chambers

Peace has always been attached to a place for me. The ocean. The cottage. And now La Foce.

Just get me there and I’ll experience peace.

But after 72 hours into our trip to Italy, I realized that my idea of true peace has been misplaced.

It’s not about a place.

Peace is not geographical.

Peace is not easily achieved by driving or flying to a beautiful location.

Peace is not about comfort.

There are certain places that can make you “feel” peaceful while you’re there. But that feeling does not last. As soon as you return to “normal” life, the peaceful feeling fades.

hydrangeas

My “peace” was ripped apart in Tuscany, sitting among the path of hydrangeas, on a Sunday morning.

I mean, the setting was peace inducing.

But my heart was ripped open there.

Surrounded by beauty, Jesus touched my heart and revealed the ugliness inside.

There was an abuse of my soul that morning.

It took a trip across an ocean, on a different continent, to expose some restlessness that had settled in my heart.

Restlessness uncovered

The distractions that had settled inside my heart became invitations to prayer.

Restlessness was uncovered. Peace was disturbed.

Burdens were lifted.

Restlessness uncovered

Is true peace achievable?

The answer is yes.

But it’s not achieved in a place.

True peace is found in a Person.

True peace is being shaken to your core by your Father, uncovering those comforts to reveal a heart of misplaced peace.

True peace is a journey that will be disturbed time and again.

The path of peace for us is to hand ourselves over to God and ask Him to search us, not what we think we are, or what other people think we are, or what we persuade ourselves we are or would like to be, but, ‘Search me out, O God, explore me as I really am in Thy sight.’ ~ Oswald Chambers

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Tuscany

Comments

  1. emily p freeman says

    August 15, 2016 at 11:22 am

    What an honor to bear witness to your peace and your Peace, Caroline. You are a gift and I’m so grateful for you.

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      August 15, 2016 at 5:36 pm

      Love you friend.

  2. Libbie Lowe says

    August 15, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Again, beautifully written.
    Only God brings us that inner peace and it doesn’t happen instantly when we pray but, it surely is awesome when it does, isn’t it?

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      August 15, 2016 at 5:37 pm

      Yes it is! Love you.

  3. Lauren says

    August 20, 2016 at 6:42 am

    This is beautiful, Caroline. “True peace is a journey that will be disturbed time and time again.” Another paradox in the life of a follower of Christ. Joy in suffering. Life in death. Peace through disturbance. I love that.

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      August 20, 2016 at 8:45 am

      Thank you Lauren. It’s a hard truth to learn, isn’t it? But beautiful.

  4. Maureen Benke says

    August 20, 2016 at 11:41 am

    I found myself in my own little kitchen with the rain showering down outside reading your article on PEACE. It is TRUE that PEACE comes from God. If only we would just get out of the way and let him dwell. In Ephesians 1 we are told that we have been given EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…..WOW! Think on that a minute…EVERY….EVERY…spiritual blessing in the heavenly places….now, wouldn’t that include PEACE? We just have to constantly remember that we are NOT home yet; but, home in the form of PEACE can be with us now because we have been given the Holy Spirit and are NOT left alone. Thank you for your beautiful writing. I enjoyed it!

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      August 21, 2016 at 6:42 am

      We do need those constant reminders don’t we? Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts!

  5. Susan Bricker says

    August 23, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Beautiful words Caroline!Powerful truths!

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      September 2, 2016 at 7:24 am

      <3

  6. Mary Carver says

    September 1, 2016 at 9:04 am

    This is beautiful. <3

    • Caroline TeSelle says

      September 2, 2016 at 7:24 am

      Thank you Mary, 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. For Your Weekend - emily p. freeman - says:
    August 20, 2016 at 8:15 am

    […] Restlessness Uncovered by Caroline TeSelle […]

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Hi! My name is Caroline TeSelle and I'm currently doing life with my husband & 4 kids in our little corner of the world. Read more.

carolineteselle

Caroline TeSelle
S I X T E E N. Happy Birthday, Eden! We love you S I X T E E N.

Happy Birthday, Eden! We love you 🥰
E I G H T E E N. I’m speechless. We love you so E I G H T E E N.

I’m speechless. We love you so much, Stone! Happy Birthday! 🎈#tesellelife

📸: @mollyhebdaphotography
Goodbye, 2022. We’re ready to embrace 2023. #tes Goodbye, 2022. We’re ready to embrace 2023. #tesellelife
An evening to remember. Some meeting for the first An evening to remember. Some meeting for the first time, some with years of memories. Love surrounding us all.

We missed you, @mo.k3lli @demturan & Bennett! 😚
Merry Christmas from the TeSelles and a Mahaffey! Merry Christmas from the TeSelles and a Mahaffey! p.s. can you spot the Christmas miracle? 😘🎄
The tradition started years ago when Eden was two The tradition started years ago when Eden was two years old and had hip surgery, our friend @leannemc417 brought Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen to ease the pain & cheer us up. ⁣
⁣
And so, as the years went on, whenever we’ve had a surgery or a broken bone (or bones! 🤕) she’d drop off Dilly Bars. ⁣
⁣
We hate to call it a tradition but we’ve had quite a few broken bones and surgeries in our family through the years. ⁣
⁣
Today, we’re passing on the tradition to my dad who broke a bone for the first time in his 84 years of life! Praying his wrist will heal quickly and having a Dilly Bar definitely helps! ⁣
⁣
Thank you, Leanne for starting this tradition for us! 😘
The laughter, the questions, the listening, the li The laughter, the questions, the listening, the light, the fog, the sun, the rain, the history, the art, the lobster rolls, the salted caramel gelato…so much from this trip will continue to bring life long after. 

Thankful to travel with these friends—we don’t deserve you! Until next year @thenester @chadsmithis @emilypfreeman @freemanjohn
The last #TeSellfie for a while with all six of us The last #TeSellfie for a while with all six of us.🥺⁣
⁣
After three years of sticking close to home so he could help our family travel through some significant health issues (during a pandemic nonetheless!), Gunnar is off on his next life adventure. He’ll call Asheville, North Carolina home now. ⁣
⁣
We couldn’t be happier for him and sadder for us. ⁣
⁣
We can’t wait to see what’s next for you @gunnarteselle. We love you and we will see you soon!
Bucket list item ✔️ So much fun!🐐🥰 #goa Bucket list item ✔️ So much fun!🐐🥰

#goatyoga @natures_trail_yoga
See More... Follow on Instagram

search:

Privacy Policy

© 2023 Caroline TeSelle · All Rights Reserved