God's Peace

    Many of us have heard the phrase "peace of mind," meaning a sense of safety or protection. It is often used to refer to things such as home security, insurance, and financial investments. While these things, as well as others, can offer a degree of peace, they are in fact earthly. That is, they are transient and fleeting. Confined to this world, they are short-lived. Ultimately, the peace they offer evaporates.

    However, there is a peace that is eternal - the peace of God. Philippians 4:7 states, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (KJV). Perhaps you've experienced God's peace. I have. As I mentioned in a previous post, on February 10, 2023, I was in a skydiving accident. Nothing too major, I did sustain a rather complex fracture to my right ankle. I found myself alone in a hospital, thirty miles from home. On top of that, I was about to face one of my greatest fears - surgery!

    What surprised me about this particular incident is that from the moment it happened, a sense of peace that bordered on elation washed over me. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Laying in a hospital bed, right ankle dislocated, foot facing about forty-five degrees in the wrong direction, I didn't have a care in the world. I was a little anxious about the surgery, but I'll get to that in a bit. When I informed me wife I was going to have surgery and stay in the hospital overnight, she commented about the cost. My insurance was through the Veterans Administration (VA), so I wasn't really concerned. I was at peace, and such things were not important. I recall mentioning I could always get on a payment plan, cash in some of my retirement  fund, or both. 

    I had no idea how expensive surgery was or what an overnight stay in a hospital cost. Ironically, I was blessed to discover that a law had been passed a month prior to my mishap requiring the VA to cover emergency room visits such as mine and all subsequent follow-up appointments. As it turned out later, the cost was quite exorbitant. But it was all covered, thankfully.

    Getting back to God's peace. I was keenly aware of His peace from the moment I landed. I didn't crash, mind you. I just landed hard on the tarmac. When my instructor and another gentleman from the drop zone arrived to collect me in the Gator cart, the most incredible sense of calm washed over me. I made jokes about the landing as they removed my skydiving rig and hoisted me into the cart. On the way to the hospital, I was relaxed and chatted with one of the owners. A veteran, we exchanged sea stories. Entering the ER, I cracked a joke at the security guard, whose eyes bulged out at the sight of my foot. I recall telling him something like, "You should see the other guy." He laughed. On my way to the examination room, I performed "the Queen's wave" and made sure to tell my nurse what I was doing.

    I profusely thanked everyone with whom I interacted, thankful they took such good care of me and appreciative of their genuine concern. X-rays confirmed my ankle was indeed broken - and then some, as it turns out. An attempt to pop my ankle back in place failed. Surgery would be required. I was admitted to the hospital, given a gown, and wheeled to a room. More nurses and hospital staff entered my room. I was affable, almost in a running-for-office kind of way. I was happy. In fact, I couldn't recall a time when I had been happier. But it was more than happiness. I was at peace - peace in a way that I couldn't understand. Intellectually, logically, I knew I should be concerned. But I wasn't. In some strange way I knew everything was going to be okay.

    Not fully comprehending it at the time, I was experiencing God's peace - a peace that not only is beyond understanding, but is also impossible to fully explain. If you've experienced God's peace, you know what I'm talking about. This peace has been with me throughout this entire experience. I'm no theologian, but I have a theory about why God's peace is incomprehensible. Simply put, when we experience His peace, I believe, we experience His presence. Yes, God is always with us. I don't deny that. However, as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (KJV). Well, I believe when we experience God's peace, Jesus is in our midst. He was right there with me from the moment of impact. Looking back, I imagine Him standing next to me, assuring me that everything would be okay. Now, think about that for a minute. Let that image really sink in. 

    I suffered a hard landing and broke my right ankle. In addition to the two people who worked at the drop zone, imagine Jesus shows up. He rides in the Gator with me back to the hangar and in the truck's extended cab to the hospital. While I lay on an examination bed, he sits next to me. When I'm wheeled to my room, he walks along side the gurney. Laying alone in my room waiting for the surgeon to brief me, he keeps me company. He escorts me to the operating room, watches over the procedure, and is in the recovery room when I wake up. How in the world could someone not be at peace? And just imagine the kind of peace His very presence would bring in such a situation. That, my friends, is the peace that passeth all understanding. You see, in any situation, no matter how dire, if Jesus were right there with you, would you not be at perfect peace? Of course, you would! I was. 

    God's peace did keep my heart and mind, just as advertised. It was the most incredible experience of my life. In many ways, it was transcendental, a brief preview of eternity, when we will not be consumed with worry, fear, or anxiety. For those things cannot exist in God's presence. In His presence there is abundant peace. We must seek Him daily, seek His will, and know that He is present. The Old Testament is replete with the phrase I am. I'm struck by how many times God uses that phrase in reference to Himself. He drives home the point that He indeed not only exists in the present, but He is present. And in His presence perfect peace can be found. Seek His presence and know His peace!