Peace in difficult times does not mean that our circumstances are good. It means that God can steady our hearts even when life has been shattered.
In November 1873, Anna Spafford and her four daughters were travelling across the Atlantic aboard the Ville du Havre when the ship collided with another vessel and sank.
Anna survived, but all four daughters died.
Her husband, Horatio Spafford, travelled from Chicago to meet his grieving wife. In the aftermath of the tragedy, he wrote the words that became the hymn It Is Well with My Soul. His declaration did not mean that the loss was painless or that everything in his life was well. It expressed a deeper confidence that, even in overwhelming grief, his soul remained in God’s hands.
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat… Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18, KJV
Peace Is Not Denial
Faith does not require us to call tragedy good. Loss hurts, disappointment is real and grief should not be silenced by religious language.
Jesus wept. The psalmists lamented. Even faithful people asked God difficult questions.
Peace begins when we stop pretending and bring the truth of our pain into the presence of God.
Grief and Peace Can Coexist
We sometimes imagine that peace means the absence of sorrow. But a person can weep and still trust God. The heart can grieve what has been lost while remaining confident that it has not been abandoned.
God’s peace may not immediately explain why something happened. It does something equally necessary: it guards us while we live with unanswered questions.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7, KJV
Your Soul Can Be Held
Some seasons leave nothing around us feeling settled. Plans collapse, relationships change, and people we love are taken from us.
In such moments, peace is not found in controlling every outcome. It is found in knowing that God remains present when control is impossible.
Everything may not be well around you, but the One who does not change can still hold your soul.
You do not have to deny your grief to receive God’s peace. Bring Him the sorrow, the questions and the broken pieces. His peace can meet you there.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You know the places in my life that are not well.
Meet me in my grief, disappointment and unanswered questions. Keep me from pretending that I am not hurting, but also keep sorrow from swallowing my hope.
Let Your peace guard my heart and mind. Hold my soul steady when everything around me is uncertain.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Sacred Pause presents Christian reflections rooted in Scripture, offering encouragement, prayer and practical wisdom for everyday life. It forms part of The Trent’s broader exploration of faith, meaning and the human experience.
