Peace settles us down

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. — Luke 1:78–79

It seems that in the constant negativity, conflict and dangers in our world, our escape route is that of TV binge watching and guzzling wine. Both of these “medications,” though, don’t heal our souls. They don’t ease our troubled minds. These ways of coping can only perpetuate the gloom.

So rather than stay in the gloom self-medicating, it is necessary to seek slivers of light that come from the tender mercy of our God, by looking to God’s Word for help and healing, and turning to the psalms for solace. It is when we turn our eyes to God and remember how Jesus walked toward the cross with God ever close to his side that the light we seek begins to appear. The unmanageable starts becoming manageable. Slowly and tenderly the mercy of God fills our lives and the TV and the wine are no longer the balm in Gilead we need. The mercy of our God guides us into the way of peace.

Lord God, in this time of Lent, give us the strength and courage in our struggles to turn toward the tender mercy of God who promises a light to chase away the gloom. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.