Flipbooks

Things will calm down once this happens . . . I'll have peace after that . . . Have you ever found yourself thinking this way? We want peace and calm but there's always something standing in our way. Perhaps our schedules are too full, or an upcoming event has us anxious, or the state of current affairs is just too much. Is there time for peace? Is pursuing peace even appropriate when there's so much around us? How could peace even be possible in the midst of unending pain? The author of the well-known hymn "When Peace, like a River" (LSB 763) knew something about unex- pected peace despite unending sorrow. Horatio Gates Spafford came to America in search of a better life. He worked hard to make a living but ended up losing most of his financial investments during the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. Two years later, his four young daughters were killed when his family was traveling without him to England and their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel. As Horatio traveled to meet his grieving wife in England, he penned this hymn: When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. How could Horatio write these words? And how can so many Christians sing them over and over again hundreds of years later? How can it be well with our soul when sorrows like sea billows roll? Peace. God's peace is another fruit of the Spirit, another gift of God received in our Baptism, another emo- tion that comes from outside of ourselves and our circumstances. It is a peace that surpasses under- standing. It is a peace that doesn't make sense in the midst of tragedy. It is a peace that comes from being held by Jesus. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate And hath shed His own blood for my soul. We can proclaim it is well with our soul despite it not being well in the world because Jesus has shed His own blood for our souls—and promises to restore the world. Regardless of what Satan throws at us or whatever experience of brokenness we face, we can rest with assurance because of Christ's redeeming work on the cross. Perhaps Horatio knew what author Heidi Goehmann says in Finding Hope: "In all the brokenness, some- times we lose sight of the truth: The pain will end. Jesus is real. He is here with us now, and He is coming soon" (p.154). Amen, Heidi! Peace is possible when we zoom out our perspective to see a bigger picture. While the pain is real, it does end. And Jesus is real—and He's coming soon. In his Gospel, John declares, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). And darkness will not overcome light. The pain may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. And Jesus is our Morning Sun. He is near the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). He is our light. And we look forward to the day that is coming when there will be no more broken-heartedness or crying, no more pain or death. There is just light, that is the glory of God, and by it all the nations will walk (Revelation 21:24). We can have peace for today because there's hope for tomorrow. And our hope will not put us to shame. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and grant us peace that surpasses our under- standing, peace that will guard our hearts and minds in You. • Heidi Goehmann, Finding Hope: From Brokenness to Resto- ration (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2021), p. 154. Brokenness is heavy, but it's time to call brokenness by name. Find tools to identify it in your life and see God's hope amid the mess. Find this title and others in this issue at cph.org. FINDING HOPE: FROM BROKENNESS TO RESTORATION Lutheran Life 21

• Cover