Peace

I was sitting in my parents car, directly outside the doors of Blue Ridge Funeral home the first time I truly experienced it.  I had convinced myself that I was not going to make it through my sister’s wake.  I was terrified, terrified to see her like that.  I played over and over in mind what I would do, how I would survive the visual reality that my sister was no longer with us.  There was nothing anyone could do to convince me that I was going to be ok.  I was not ok.  This was not ok.

I knew there they people from all over the globe praying for me and my family.  They called, sent messages, and repeatedly reminded me that they were praying.  Praying for what?  Peace.

It was like a gentle wave that came over the car as we sat there.  I could feel it.  Fear became a shadow and something that looked like hope appeared.  My mom looked at me and said “Rachel, can you feel it? Can you feel the prayers of God’s people.”  They encompassed me like a warm quilt on a cold day, like an ocean wave washing over me.  Peace came, not just any peace, but a peace that surpassed all that I could comprehend.

God is faithful like that.  Today if you need peace, ask the Father of all peace to grant you His.  Also, let us pray with you.  There is little that is as powerful as the people of God, calling out together to God on behalf of one another.  So I pray today for you; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)