Peace Like a River

I attended a funeral yesterday and was struck by the display of grief from those left behind. Namely, a 13 year old son, heartbroken over the loss of his daddy.

I have always been moved by the story of Horatio Spafford and his penning the words to "It Is Well With My Soul" while visiting the watery grave-site of his four daughters who were lost in the Atlantic. My favorite verse of the song is as follows,

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

How beautiful to think that Christ Himself regards our heartache. There is something in grief that connects us more closely with our Maker. Maybe it is that when our hearts are broken, it makes more room for Him to come in. I don't know.

The Pastor giving the eulogy spoke familiar words, "Thank God for Jesus. We couldn't make it in this world without Him."

As he spoke, my mind drifted to Adam and Eve and what it must have been like for the perfect love they had and were experiencing to be suddenly ripped out, leaving them fraught with insecurity and void. Forever since, mankind has been searching for love and acceptance and meaning and satisfaction. Searching for Eden, really. To know and be known and to love and be loved.

How wonderful that out greatest need was God's greatest desire for us; that we would know Him and love Him and know His great love in return. To me, this is the fragrant melody that Jesus calls out to each of us and when life plunges us below the surface, we hear Him singing into our souls "peace like a river."