“There is nothing to be afraid of, God is with you. Go in peace.” Goosebumps covered my body as I heard the final benediction.
“There is nothing to be afraid of?!? I can think of a few things off the top of my head!” the snarky side of me chimed in. With all that is going on today it feels like a joke to live in peace. Yet when I had heard those words, goosebumps had covered my body. There was some deep knowing and belief that this is true.
Perhaps it was a remembering of the times past when the chaos of work, finances, family, friends, marriage, world news felt absolutely overwhelming, yet I was carried through. God was with me. When there was everything to fear, there was nothing to fear.
Just as joy is deeper and wider than happiness. God’s Peace is deeper and wider than the absence of chaos. The Peace Jesus offers comes below, above, around all the unrest, chaos, pain and holds us in the midst. It holds us. I feel myself take a deep breath in and deep breath out.
The Lord is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear nothing.
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
They comfort me.
Your rod and staff comfort me.
You prepare a table in front of my enemies;
You anoint me head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Lord, You are my Shepard. You restore my soul. Because You are with me, there is nothing to fear. I will go in peace.
-Annika Cook
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