Know God, know peace

Even as millions of people gear up for celebrations during Christmas season, there are many who also grope in darkness.

The miseries of life hound them. Broken families, strained relationships, business losses, painful health conditions, loneliness, financial crises, legal battles and anxieties of every kind.

The down-trodden and suffering waited for generations for a sign of hope. God sent a ray of hope to those in darkness.

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Mathew 4:16).

That was the message God sent through Jesus to those who longed for redemption from suffering. It was a prayer answered. Alfred Tennyson speaking about the power of prayers says, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world would dream of.”

Prayers bring us closer to God and help us experience peace that the world cannot give and the world cannot take away.

Know God, know Peace. No God, no Peace. God lifts you up when you put your trust in Him.

A fifteen-year-old boy and his father were driving past a tiny airport in a small town in Ohio. Suddenly, a small plane nose-dived and crashed into the runway.

The boy screamed, “Stop the car dad, stop the car.” In a few minutes, the boy was helping the pilot out of the plane. The pilot was a young trainee. He died in the arms of this little boy.

When the boy reached home, with tears in his eyes, he hugged his mother saying, “Mum, he was my friend. He was only twenty.” The shock did not leave the boy. He lost his peace. He spent sleepless nights.

When his mother entered his room one day, she found an open notebook on the dressing table. It was a book he kept from his childhood. At the top of the page was written in big letters - ‘The Character of Jesus’.

He had also listed a series of qualities of Jesus. ‘Jesus was sinless, humble, compassionate towards the poor, unselfish, close to God.’ The mother saw in her son great faith in God. He was interested in flying so the mother later asked him, “What have you decided about flying?”

He replied, “I am sure with the help of God and your prayers I will fly.” The boy was Neil Armstrong who was the first human being to walk on the moon.

Only few people who watched that historic event knew the source of his peace, strength and success. It was his immense faith in God and the prayers of his parents.

Count on God when you see challenges before you. Be confident like Saint Paul. In his letter to the Philippians, he writes: “I can do all things in Him (God) who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).