Faith Post: Does Your River Have Peace?

Peace like a river …; We’ve all heard it, we’ve all sang it, but, what does it mean? Where did this phrase come from and how do we get it?

Can we have peace in a world full of hate?

First of all, remember the song a lot of us sang as kids; “I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river…”. It’s a smooth, comforting song that brings to mind a large slow moving, gentle body of water. The Old Testament book of Isaiah 66:11-13 mentions this kind of peace and it is this reference where we get the phrase from. OK, it’s Biblical, so where does it come from?

This kind of comfort, tranquility and calmness can only come from God. What about world peace? The world we live in will never be at peace until Jesus returns. The Bible states in Matthew 13:48-50 that the wicked will be separated from the just so as long as there is wickedness in the world, there will be no worldwide peace.

Don’t give up!

We can have peace in a world that lacks it. As I was studying and meditating on this river-like peace, I got to thinking about all the rivers that didn’t seem so peaceful. There are many rivers that are quite violent. We all know of waterfalls and rapids that aren’t so calm, right? These are the same waterways that seem still and calm in certain areas all the while remaining rough and choppy in others. How does the whole ‘peace like a river’ apply here? This is what I felt the Lord gave me as an answer to this very question. To obtain this ‘peace’, one must have a confident expectation of things to come. This is a perfect definition of the word Faith. You see, a river has a destination. It knows where it is going and nothing is going to keep it from getting there. There are obstacles; rocks, trees or even cliffs often get in the path of a river. Even when dams are built to hold back the river; it can never be completely stopped. It will reach its destination. That is true peace. It comes when you know that nothing can keep you from getting to where you know you are destined to be. Whether natural things in this world or man made things are created to try and stop you; peace is yours.

If you believe in what God has promised and know that you have a destination in heaven; then peace like a river will flow through your life. It’s true and that simple, … believe!

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Category: Faith