Peace for Our Souls

For the mountains may depart

   and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
   and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
   says the Lord, who has compassion on you. ~ Isaiah 54:10

This morning, I heard the storm moving in - the rain beating down on the roof as I waited to leave for work.  I had hoped that it would lighten up by the time I needed to leave, but instead, it continued to beat heavily.  As I finally looked out the window, the rain was coming down in heavy sheets, with the wind blowing it sideways.  I decided I could wait no longer, as I would already be a few minutes late.  There did not appear to be a break in sight.

Dashing the 5 yards or so to my vehicle, I was immediately drenched!  As much as I hate to run the wipers, I had no choice this morning, for I could not see out of my windshield with the amount of water running across it.  The ditches could not handle the rain as quickly as it was coming down, so the water on the road also became a hazard to contend with.  A few miles down the road, the rain started to let up to a more manageable pattering and by the time I arrived at the church, I didn't have to worry so much about another drenching as I walked from my vehicle to open up the doors, still very damp from my initial soaking.

Once inside, a sense of peace settled upon me, knowing that I was safely at work once again in the house of the Lord.  Grabbing a cup of coffee, I settled in to my usual routine for a Friday morning of sending out the UPDATEe-mail to parishioners for the week's coming events.  Looking out the window, I saw the stream racing by in the wooded area just to the east of the church. 

Life is much like that racing stream and stormy downpour, I thought.  We dread going out into the tumult of life that seems to speed by us at lightning speed.  We are afraid of being "drenched" in the difficulties that lie ahead of us.  Before we know it, weeks and years have passed by us.  Just what have we accomplished in the chaos that we call life?  Where is that sense of peace that we want to find shelter in from the storm. 

Until we find our shelter in the Lord, we will not find that sense of peace that we long for in life.  Knowing that "all is well" is so comforting.  God will always welcome us in from the storms that surround us to bring us that peace we seek.  Then we can join in the all-familiar tune, "It is Well With My Soul."

Prayer

Father in heaven,

Thank You for being our shelter in the storms of life.  Thank You for the peace You bring us when we seek and finally find You.  You are our safe haven - making all well within our souls.  Amen. 

~ Wendy Miller