GIVE ME JESUS: The Peace Which Transcends Understanding

Several Sundays ago, my “forever” pastor*, Bob Myers (http://www.covenant-church.org/) preached on the difference between a metaphor often quoted to the dying (Make peace with dying), and Jesus Himself, the author and enabler of our peace.

Bob questioned whether my husband, Bill would have wanted to hear this metaphor as he lay dying eleven years ago. He claimed that Bill, if he had been told he needed to make peace with dying, would have responded with an indignant, “Don’t give me a metaphor, give me Jesus!”

I agree. Bill knew first hand, what would bring him true peace, because he experienced this when…paralyzed and with tangled speech…all odds were against him.

When he had nothing left, he learned Jesus was enough.

God’s Son saw Bill through with His peace to his very last breath on this earth. For in Philippians 4:6 & 7 we are given this direction and promise, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The closer Bill came to his death, the more I witnessed this peace in his face and demeanor.

Of course the peace of Jesus is available to those of us left to grieve on earth too. For these verses in Philippians end with this peace being for all those “in Christ Jesus.”

Who or what brings you peace in your grief?

*Bob Myers is the pastor who loved us through Bill’s illness with his near-constant presence and reassurance.

Originally posted on Grief Walk.