I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve had this old spiritual ringing in my heart the last few days, and I thought about what it means to have “peace like a river.” I don’t know about you, but my favorite places to be are next to the ocean, or a river, or a creek. Those are the most peaceful places. I don’t know why other than the sound of the waves crashing or the water splashing on the banks just seem to calm the soul. Rivers are constantly flowing; there is no end to their flow—unless we do something to prevent it. God wants peace to flow through our lives like a river runs through the land. He wants peace to be a constant flow, a river in our souls, with no end. When we have that peace flowing through us, we become havens for other people, for our peacefulness can touch them and calm their souls as well. The Lord longs to give this peace to us, for He says it is ours to have if we will only trust Him with our cares. Philippians 4:6–7 says it like this:
Be careful [or anxious] for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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