Sandy Harless

Peace Like a River
 
There are few things that are more soothing than to sit back, rest and gaze upon a river that is calm and smooth and reflective of a glorious sky above. You can imagine this scene at sunrise, sunset or blue skies with fluffy white clouds. You take a deep breath in… and exhale a cleansing sigh of relief. For in that moment you can be still. In that moment you can find peace. Stress and worry become distant, if only for a moment and you may even allow yourself to be comforted. It’s during times like these that we can feel, and possibly hear, God. You don’t have to seek a river to find this place. You can find it at home with a candle and soft music, or sitting in your backyard, or simply lying in your bed at night after everyone else is asleep.

The Hymn:  It is Well, by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
 
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.
 
We all have pain, disappointment, loss…. these are our sorrows. At times they just keep rolling in like massive waves upon the ocean (sea billows). Waves can be beautiful, but they can also be destructive. Some people have become great surfers of these waves, riding the curl only to narrowly escape the crash. This is a skill that takes years of practice. Being tumbled by billows can be painful and exhausting. This encourages the boarder to “stick it” and stay on that board with all their might. For when they do, they will coast safely to shore having conquered the wave. For some, the experience of being overtaken by a crashing wave was so devastating; they simply refuse to get back into the water.
 
Isn’t that really what a sea billow was meant to do?
 
Body surfers are all in. They enjoy the waves and are looking for a full bodied adventure. They can feel the water all around them as they glide in on the power of the water. They might get skinned knees as they scrape their way to the shore. Once in a while they may even get picked up and slammed on the beach by a wave that was bigger than they expected. Waves can tumble you end over end if you aren’t careful, leaving you choking and disoriented in the sand.
 
Isn’t that really what a sea billow was meant to do?
 
Sorrows are like sea billows. They will come. Jesus himself said these words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart? I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV


The Lord will give you peace.
 
Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
 
The peace that God gives you is complete and whole and will protect you. You will feel His peace and it won’t make sense to you. Your circumstances may scream in the face of your peace, but you will be sheltered from the ravages of your storm.
 
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
For some, your storm may be quieted. The rage abruptly halted. You may have the faith-building pleasure of witnessing a God-sized miracle. Jesus’ disciples witnessed many miracles. This particular one speaks to a storm on the sea.
 

Matthew 8:23-27 The Message (MSG)

Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!” ²⁶ Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?” Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: “Silence!” The sea became smooth as glass. ²⁷ The men rubbed their eyes, astonished. “What’s going on here? Wind and sea come to heel at his command!”
 
Some of us, however, will ride our billows. God has a purpose and a plan for everything under the sun. For you, in this storm, He may have chosen to let you ride. You may be a board surfer attempting to ride the wave to shore.  You may be a body surfer taking your chances full on in the water. But if you are called to weather any storm, then you must be able to experience the presence of God. You must find a place to “be still” and “be fully submitted” before Him. (Even a professional surfer needs to take time to rest and restore!) In God’s presence we find restoration and strength. In our weakness we find His power resting on our life.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
 
I am BLESSED!! B-L-E-S-S-E-D I tell you! I have so MUCH to be thankful for and happy about. I have the JOY of the Lord, Who is my strength. Jesus has set me FREE and I live in His freedom! But let me also tell you friend, I have personal sea billows. My sea billows are different from yours, but they are no less painful. Sometimes I just need to sit at the still water’s edge and cry…. And wait for God, because He always comes. I can pour out my sorrows and He will pour out His lavish love and shelter me with His peace. I am restored and strengthened to pick up my sword and shield and carry on. Sometimes I need to come to the water’s edge to give Him thanks and praise. I can be silent in prayer or I can sing and worship Him. As I sing to Him, I know He sings over me. His word says that he does!
 
Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
¹⁷ For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.^[a]
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
 
 
Would you like for peace like a river to come your way? Would you like to be able to say “It is well with my soul?” Come to the water’s edge. I can say that “it is well with my soul.” I know with a holy confidence that God has me. He has my life. My concerns are His concerns. My burdens are His burdens. My pain is healed in His name and nothing in my life is wasted when given back to Him for His glory.
 
You can choose what that looks like for you, but just come. I promise you that He will come too. Come and find your rest. Come and find your peace. Come and find your God.

Psalm 34:18 NLT

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Isaiah 59:1 NIV

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
    nor his ear too dull to hear.
 

Psalm 138:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 91:1

New International Version (NIV)

 

The Hymn:  It is Well, by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
 
1.    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.
o   Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2.    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.
3.    My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4.    For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5.    But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6.    And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.