Peace In Difficulty

“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day.” (Psalm 91:5, NKJV)

The sound of our youngest grandson crying/screaming/hollering in the night … it was not the sound any parent and grandparent would want to wake up to hear!  Rushing in to his bedroom, it was very clear he was having what the medical community calls “night terrors” and they are just as ominous as they sound!

He was terrified, fearful in an almost uncontrollable way and he was in deep need … need for solace, patience, warmth, calming assurance … and the welcoming and warming arms of his mother!  No one else would do!

And, just as studies have indicated, in a short amount of time, they generally pass leaving them and those that love them, tired, weary and thankful for the peace that ensues!

Can you identify with what this little almost 3-year old boy was going through?  I strongly suspect that all of us can!  Night terrors … bad dreams … strange sounds in the night … all adding up to the tossing and turning, the wrestless spirit that just doesn’t want to go away!

We know bad things happen at night.  The Bible references how the works of evil men parade themselves in the darkness.  But bad things happen in the day time as well!

The older I get the more like my grandson I can become with this exception:  namely, where he is only in the early stages of hearing and knowing about God through the teaching of his parents/grandparents and the Bible classes he attends … I have  come to a deeper and clearer understanding of the greatness, power and presence of Jehovah-Shalom!

Actually, each of us is like my youngest grandson in more ways than we think.  We find ourselves in the night … in deep need of help, assurance, comfort, patience, warmth and the welcoming arms of one who loves us!  And the One who will always be there for us if we will only look to Him, trust Him and serve Him is God Himself!

It is like the words of the familiar hymn entitled Peace Perfect Peace and the opening lines which read, “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?  The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.”

It is the presence of God in our lives that will always lead to calmness within our own hearts while the world is burning around us!  It is the “Peace that passes all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)

Through the years, both in my observation of other people’s lives and in my own I have discovered this interesting and compelling truth:  when times of crisis come … when the night seems to be full of fear and terror … when one’s world is crumbling around them, then the wealth they have accumulated … the fame, power, and prominence are no longer important to them!

You see … it is in the hour of crisis … the hour that is absent of peace … that peace is wanted, sought after, and if possible, purchased with no limitation as to its cost!  The fact is we all long for peace … perfect peace that finds it origin and its efficacy in the Lord of heaven and earth!

Does all of this suggest in some way the absence of trials, difficulties, even night terrors?  No, not at all.  But what it does mean is that found in serving God is a quiet confidence within one’s heart and soul that God is in control!

My youngest grandson … all of my grandchildren … will experience night terror and fear at various times and stages of their lives, but my confidence in the God “who is the same, yesterday. today and forever” is unwavering.  He will be there to help them see the light of the new day!

“May the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.” (Romans 15:33)

 

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

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