On the first Christmas Day the first words the angel spoke to the shepherds before he revealed the wonderful news of Jesus’ birth, was “fear not”. I’m sure angels in the sky announcing declarations of the birth of a Savior might strike a little fear into the best of herders. I’m thinking if I am in my back yard herding Sophie to get inside before one of us freezes to death, that “fear not” would be the best choice of introduction between me and angelic hosts revealing themselves as well.
But the statement of “fear not” goes to an even deeper gift of abiding. Peace. In fact, it is in my moments of deepest fear that I begin to quote the passage of scripture that most often restores peace back to my heart. It is Psalm 131:2 “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.” There is no greater picture of peace than this to me.
We all know what a child who is nursing looks like when their mother walks in the room. Often there is a franticness, a desperateness. But when the child has been weaned, there is no place that is more peaceful than the one found at its mother’s breast.
On the moments when I am in my bed unable to fall asleep for the trouble that seems to weigh heavier than the rest I desperately need, I open my hands and surrender my fears. Because it is fear that pushes out peace. Fear of the “what if’s.” Fear of the “what will be’s.” Fear of the “what will be said’s.” All fears. But then we release that franticness, we surrender that desperate place, and we fall head first into the breast of our Heavenly Father, requiring nothing but the fact that He is near and He is able. And oh the peace in that raptured place.
I am struck that when songs have come to my mind regarding these fruits of the spirit they are from the old hymns I learned as a child from the hymnals that lined the back of the pews with mined treasures inside. Today is no different. It is this one that comes to mind.
Peace, peace, wonderful peace coming down from the Father above.
Sweet over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
And it has…time and time again, it has.
