Sweet Peace
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
Through all the years of battling cancer, I’ve had a steady, sweet, God-given peace. It’s a “peace that passes understanding,” that defies explanation except that it comes from Him. He has flooded my soul with an assurance that I’m in His capable hands.
When I got the results of recent testing and learned that my tumor had grown and the surrounding organs were in danger of being negatively impacted, things began to change. Every time something happened physically, I would feel anxious. My peace was definitely under attack and being threatened.
After several times of this happening, I began to understand. I needed to go back to the Lord for a fresh peace. The new information needed to be submitted to the Lord. I needed to submit myself afresh to the Lord. I needed to once again put myself into His hands, trusting Him come what may.
Once I did this, my peace was restored and the anxious thoughts were put away. What a difference it made! I still don’t know what’s ahead, but my trust in the Lord is securely anchored in Him. I’m so grateful for His peace.
There’s an old song* that I’ve sung many times these last eight years:
Peace, peace wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
I’ve sung it standing by Floyd’s bed. I’ve sung it driving home from the hospital with tears streaming down my face. I’ve sung it laying weak in bed from cancer treatment. I’ve sung it as I’ve grieved losing Floyd. The simple prayer of the song always ministers peace to my soul as I let the waves of His love and grace wash over me.
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
I am so grateful for the blessing of His peace. It is a precious treasure that only He can give. It truly does pass our human understanding. It can only come from our wonderful, faithful Lord.
Father, we look to You for the peace in our hardest places. In Jesus’ name, Amen.