Peace In The Midst of Heartache

Today I attended a memorial service for a 58 year old father. It was beautifully done, held in an outdoor venue due to the virus. His oldest child, a senior in high school, is a young lady whom I had the privilege of teaching four years ago.

Leaving that service, I drove further to visit a friend whose husband died last week. I taught their two children years ago. Four years ago, I taught the daughter’s son. Two generations of my students affected by this loss.

A week ago, I attended a memorial service for my former choir director turned family friend. Some of his young cousins happen to be former students of mine. Their parents were at the service. Once again, I watched the impact life and death have on friends.

While we celebrated the life of my former choir director, a former pastor was buried in a neighboring state. These two men led my church for part of my life and were instrumental in helping me and many other young people know there is a God who loves us.

Returning home from last week’s celebration, I learned that, while we were paying tribute to that friend, a fellow singer in our church’s state choir lost her battle with COVID. And a day or two before that, news came that our neighbor’s dad died unexpectedly.

Within the span of two weeks, six people who touched my world were gone, their lives celebrated publicly or privately, their absence a loss to those who loved them. And the external chaos of our world continued to swirl, completely uncaring of the personal hurt for each of these families.

Is peace possible in the midst of such heartache? These six losses only reflect a fraction of the hurt and pain in our world. For that matter, they only reflect a portion of the hurt and pain in the lives of people in my little part of the world. What are folks to do? Where can we go to find a balm for our hurting hearts?

Hours before He was to be crucified on our behalf, Jesus spoke to His disciples this way, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Jesus offered something the world can never offer. Peace when there is no peace. Internal peace. Peace that isn’t “on-again, off-again.” Peace that is different, better, sweeter.

When life leaves us hurting, Jesus promises us that we don’t need to flee to another part of the globe to escape the pain we feel. Alcohol or drugs to dull the ache in our soul won’t be sufficient to find the peace we crave. And while friends may encourage us with their presence, they can never get inside us to soothe our heart’s hurt the way the God Who made us can.

Jesus’ peace isn’t a bandaid. It doesn’t just cover up a hurt. It fills the holes the hurt has left. And He offers this peace freely.

The pressures of this world wear us down. Jesus offers to pick us up. He died for us, was separated from the Father for us, and conquered death for us. The fact that He offers us His peace seems like the perfect ending to His story for us.

Is there peace to be found in the midst of heartache? Absolutely! It doesn’t mean we won’t ever hurt. But it does mean we can have an internal Comforter who will walk that painful road with us.

Jesus offers us Himself. And He offers us His peace. Peace with the Father. Peace of heart and mind. Peace in the midst of joy. Peace in the midst of pain.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus’ offer is good. Do you know Him? If you do, you’ll find that true peace can and does exist. And in the midst of heartache, you’ll discover His peace is there even more.

(Photos taken at Tribble Mill Park, Lawrenceville, GA, and Center Hill Baptist Church, Gratis, GA, by Carolyn Thigpen)