By Collin Ross
One of the most consequential days of ministry that I’ve had occurred when ministering to a woman on her deathbed. She had lived a long life, and her family had gathered around her bed for prayer and comfort. I had the honor of leading a brief service of prayer and worship at her bedside, culminating in the celebration of communion. As we shared the bread and wine, we remembered the promise of resurrection. The Lord was present with us, and we all noted a strong sense of peace. We were all still sad, but we trusted that our God was with us even in death, and that made all the difference.
We all want to find peace. Growing up, my father would always say he wanted “peace of mind” for Christmas. Now a parent myself, I can relate to his desire. Of course, peace, as it is spoken about in Scripture, means far more than a quiet home or the absence of violence. When Paul describes God in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 as the “Lord of peace,” he is signifying that God is the one who brings well-being and fullness of life. And isn’t that what we want? More than the lack of strife or disaster, we want to be at rest in the fullness of God’s redeemed world.
When the Israelites were getting ready to set out into the wilderness and journey to the land promised to them by God, Moses was unwilling to take a single step without the Lord. He knew he could not lead the nation without God’s presence in their midst. We’ve all been on the precipice of the unknown. The illusion of control falters, and we cringe at just how powerless and small we are. We are paralyzed by fear given the possible outcomes. But the Lord calms Moses’s fears when He promises, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). That’s all Moses needed to hear. That’s all we need to hear. The Lord of peace goes with us day in and day out. The perennial question for us is do we believe it?
When the Apostle Paul was wrapping up his letter to the church in Rome—a church community rife with internal strife and external pressures—he told them where to find peace. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe” (Romans 15:13). Paul knew that the Lord’s presence brings peace. It is not a matter of inviting God into our lives. He is with us now, ready to give His children eternal peace. Do we believe it?
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